For the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2008-09, the Pittsburgh Penguins have tallied a win in the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 1 saw three periods of completely different play. In the first period, Pittsburgh dominated with an aggressive forecheck, killing speed and good instincts by just about every player. In the second period, the San Jose Sharks evaporated the Penguins 2-0 lead and bring the game back to even. In the third period, each team had their fair shot at taking the ... Read More
Penguins, Sharks evenly matched as puck about to drop in Game 1 of Finals
Pittsburgh Penguins The stage is set at Consol Energy Center for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Pittsburgh Penguins have the chance to take the final step to complete their Cinderella story this season — at one point, early in the season, the Penguins looked like they wouldn’t even make the playoffs. They were still feeling the growing pains of adjusting to new head coach Mike Sullivan's style of play. Now, Pittsburgh seemingly has everything figured out, which makes them incredibly ... Read More
Chemistry, not making big trades helps lead Penguins to Stanley Cup
Compare the 2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins to the current roster. Based on skill alone, who is more likely to make the Stanley Cup Finals? If you said this years’ team, you might be lying to yourself. That team three years ago was stacked, and on paper one of the most talented teams in franchise history. They were supposed to breeze through the Eastern Conference on their way to the finals. It was not supposed to be close. Future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla was acquired for below-market ... Read More
Stanley Cup Preview: It’s cup time
What a ride it has been thus far. The ups and downs of an 82-game season with the addition of 18 more games in the playoffs can take a toll on any team. The Pittsburgh Penguins have shown resiliency in the last few months and deserve to be in the position they are in. San Jose equally deserves the opportunity heading to their first ever Stanley Cup Final. In many respects, the Sharks play similarly to the Penguins. One major commonality is that San Jose wants their defense involved in the ... Read More
Penguins edge out Lightning to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals
The stage is now set for what should be one of the best Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory. Following last night's win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be tasked with playing the San Jose Sharks, a team that has features of each opponent Pittsburgh has played in these playoffs. Matt Murray and Bryan Rust were the Penguins two biggest contributors last night. This isn't to say that the work of Chris Kunitz, Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby went unnoticed, but the ... Read More
Pittsburgh’s stars shine in crucial Game 6, forcing a Game 7
Facing elimination for the first time in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins responded better than most expected. Against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6, the Penguins controlled the pace, and Pittsburgh won pretty easily, 5-2. Matt Murray got the start in net and the vote of confidence from his team. Allowing two goals (one was a self-inflicted goal by Phil Kessel), Murray responded well after being benched in Game 5 for Marc-Andre Fleury. Murray played especially ... Read More
Penguins face first elimination of 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs
Pittsburgh Penguins For the first time in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins face elimination, as they trail Tampa Bay, 3-2, in the Eastern Conference Finals. And, in Game 6, head coach Mike Sullivan has, somewhat surprisingly, given the nod to rookie goaltender Matt Murray over veteran Marc-Andre Fleury (who played the last period in Game 4 and started Game 5). Another change from Sunday's game will likely be the addition of Conor Sheary back in the lineup on the first ... Read More
Penguins lose in overtime to Lightning, Tampa Bay up 3-2 in series
The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, in overtime Sunday night at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The Penguins lost despite having been undefeated this season while leading after the second period. The game started out with both teams playing stellar defense — the shot count was low for both teams, and there weren’t many phenomenal chances. However, with .07 seconds left in the period, Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin scored his first NHL playoff goal, and ... Read More
Pens preview: Fleury to start in pivotal Game 5
After a 4-3 loss, the Penguins are now tied with the Lighting in the series 2-2. Last game, Marc-Andre Fleury was put in the net halfway through the third period, and he has been named the Game 5 starter. Matt Murray has been looking fatigued in the net and having a change in goalies may be what the Penguins need to come back in the playoffs. Both Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have been slowly making a return as they have both earned points this round. Having Malkin, Crosby and Fleury ... Read More
Lightning top Pens to tie series at 2-2
Friday night,the Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa. The series is now tied 2-2. The Lightning were off to a quick start when Ryan Callahan scored at almost 30 seconds into the game. Later in the first period, defenseman Andrej Sustr once again scored for the Lightning. The period ended with the Lightning leading 2-0. The second period was once again successful for the Lighting. Jonathan Drouin scored for the Lightning after about five ... Read More