Penguins head coach Mike Johnston will be coaching this afternoon with a heavy heart, as he deals with the loss of his mother Sheila Johnston, who passed away on Friday in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Mrs. Johnston was 81 years old. Coach Johnston is expected to coach both of the team’s games this weekend before returning to Canada for the funeral on Tuesday. After Sunday, the team does not play again until Wednesday. “The Penguins offer their deepest sympathy to Mike and his family during this ... Read More
#FreeFarnham? Forget about it
With the Penguins playing with just 17 skaters instead of the usual 18 last night in Carolina, general manager Jim Rutherford has been given one cap-free call up by the NHL to alleviate his roster emergency. Hey may not need to use it, as center Evgeni Malkin is close to returning to action (he was a full participant in practice today). Still, the possibility exists that Rutherford may look to improve the play of his forward group with some help from down on the farm. Some in the ... Read More
Pens embarrassed by last-place Canes
The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost 23 games in regulation this season. Thursday night’s 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes might have been the most embarrassing of the bunch. The Hurricanes came into the contest having lost nine out of their last 11 games and are closer to the bottom of the table than a playoff spot. That didn’t seem to stop them from thrashing a listless Penguins club. The Penguins started out on the right foot, outshooting the Canes 14-7 in the opening frame and taking a ... Read More
Pens will play a man short in Carolina
The Penguins will take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh, North Carolina, and for the third straight game, they will play with only 17 skaters. This is the first time that it will be on purpose. On Saturday, the Penguins were playing in Glendale, Arizona when defenseman Christian Ehrhoff was injured in the pregame warmups and was unable to play. The Penguins weren’t carrying any extra players on that road trip, and while Ehrhoff was in the team’s lineup, he did not play. Back ... Read More
Penguins fall in overtime to Blues
For 17 seconds on Tuesday night, the Penguins dominated the St. Louis Blues. For the rest of the 60:18 the Penguins and Blues played, the Blues kept the Penguins off the board and peppered Marc-Andre Fleury with scoring chances. The Blues out shot the Penguins 33-26 in regulation, and with the score knotted at 2-2, Alexander Steen redirected Zbynek Michalek’s wrist shot past Fleury to give the Blues a 3-2 overtime victory at Consol Energy Center. After a scoreless first period – the ... Read More
Can Crosby finally light the lamp against the Blues?
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will try to get a monkey off his back, and hopefully lead his team to another victory over a Western Conference foe, when his Penguins take on the St. Louis Blues tonight. The Blues are the only team that Crosby has never scored against in his 10-year NHL career. In the teams’ first matchup this season, he had an assist, but was a minus-2 two, and couldn’t find the back of the net despite five shots on goal. The rest of the Penguins haven’t fared much better ... Read More
Pens recall Pouliot; Malkin and Hornqvist skate
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Derrick Pouliot from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by general manager Jim Rutherford on Tuesday morning. Pouliot, 21, has already played in 26 games for Pittsburgh during his rookie season, scoring two goals and adding three assists. In 31 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has scored seven goals and seventeen assists. The native of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, was the Penguins first pick – eighth overall – in ... Read More
Pascal Dupuis will not return to the Penguins this season
When Pittsburgh Penguins left-winger Pascal Dupuis was first diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in November, the Penguins staff knew that it would be difficult for Dupuis to play again this season. He was required to miss at least six months from the time of diagnosis. That would have given him a return date of mid-May, which is late into the playoffs, but still possible for a return. Today, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford announced that Dupuis will not be returning this ... Read More
Penguins get untracked against hapless Coyotes
For the Penguins, a win – any win – is a welcome sight after losing four straight games over the last week. The Penguins 3-1 victory over Arizona Coyotes, however, is hardly an accomplishment worth celebrating. The Coyotes, now losers of six straight games and 16 of their last 17, seemed particularly uninterested in taking the play to the Penguins, despite a lackluster first period from the black and gold. The Penguins were completely outplayed through the first 20 minutes, and were ... Read More
Pens wrap up road trip in Arizona
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the midst of a road trip that they would rather forget. After being swept at home last weekend by Atlantic Division foes Boston and Detroit, a three-game set against three of the worst teams in the league seemed like it was just what the doctor ordered for the Pens. Instead, they were shutout 3-0 in New Jersey, and unable to recover from their second period mistakes in a 2-1 loss in Dallas. The Pens have now lost four straight games and have scored only two ... Read More