It was just a matter of time. And on Saturday morning, time ran out on Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Johnston as the team announced through a team-issued release that Johnston and assistant coach Gary Agnew were relieved of their duties effective immediately. “I felt it was time for a coaching change because our team has underachieved,” general manager Jim Rutherford said in the release. “Our expectations are much higher with this group of players." Taking over for Johnston will be Mike ... Read More
Bennett powers Pens past Avalanche
Beau Bennett might finally have found a spot in the Penguins top six. Playing in the spot alongside Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz that was recently vacated by the retirement of Pascal Dupuis, Bennett cashed in with a pair of third period goals that helped the Pens turn a one-goal deficit into a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Thursday night. For Bennett, the beleaguered former first-round pick, it was a relief to finally be rewarded for his hard work, and even more ... Read More
How does Dupuis retiring impact Pens salary cap?
Pittsburgh Penguins veteran forward Pascal Dupuis has announced his intention to hang up the skates. He was suffering from chest pains over the weekend that was assumed to be related to his blood clot issues and he and the team decided that it was in his and his family’s best interest for him to quit playing. The Penguins announced that they will be placing Dupuis on long-term injured reserve so that they can continue to honor his contract. While his loss does leave a big hole to fill in the ... Read More
Pens forward Pascal Dupuis retires
Pittsburgh Penguins left-winger Pascal Dupuis has decided to retire, citing continued issues with the blood clots that prematurely ended his 2014-15 season. Dupuis, 36, has been with the Penguins since 2008 and won a Stanley Cup with the club in 2009. “It was very difficult for me to make this decision to have to step away from the game,” Dupuis said in a press release. “My wife and four children have always been my first priority, and playing with my condition has become a constant worry ... Read More
Pens reunite the top line of Kunitz, Crosby and Dupuis
The Pittsburgh Penguins decided to shake things up by changing the forward line combinations once again. This time they decided to try to fall back to the tried and true combination of Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby, and Pascal Dupuis. Of course this has caused quite a stir as there are those who feel Kunitz and Dupuis are too old and not talented enough to play with Crosby, a sentiment that has been echoed time and again since the line was first put together. Crosby was drafted by the Penguins ... Read More
Pens need to rest Fleury, give Zatkoff more starts
The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank third in the Metropolitan Division thanks largely in part to the play of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury ranks in the top 10 among all NHL goaltenders in wins, save percentage and shutouts, but ranks fourth overall with 19 games played and sixth overall 569 shots against raises some concerns about the longevity of “The Flower” over the course of the regular season and anticipated playoff run. The 2003 first overall draft pick turned 31-years old ... Read More
Dubinsky receives slap on wrist for dangerous play
The Pittsburgh Penguins faced off against their nearby rival Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night in one of the most physical games of the season. Both teams were throwing their weight around and trying to make sure the opposing players had enough bumps and bruises to wake up sore the following morning. However, one particularly heinous play stood out above the rest. Late in the second period, Sidney Crosby and Brandon Dubinsky were fighting for positioning in front of the Blue Jackets' net. ... Read More
Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects: 3 Up, 3 Down
Three Up 1. Scott Wilson After a fairly productive 2014–15 professional debut hampered by injury at the midway point, left winger Scott Wilson looked to be a top player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. So far, so good. Wilson ranks second in the AHL with 10 goals and in the top 10 with 17 points in 14 games. UMass-Lowell product notched two goals, including the eventual game winner, in a 5-3 win over the Albany Devils on Saturday to keep the Penguins atop the AHL with a 13-2-0 record. 2. Conor ... Read More
Pens need to let the kids play
Proposed fixes seem to be running thin for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rollercoaster 2015–16 season continued last week with a pair of 4-3 wins over the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche capped with a 3-1 loss to the San José Sharks on Saturday night. Quite simply, the Penguins lack jump. Outlasting opponents works sometimes. So far, 12 out of 20 times to be exact, but something needs to be done to get the team to play with a higher level of intensity. The top six group of ... Read More
Pens prospects: Three up, three down
One month into the hockey season here are three Pens prospects that have impressed and three that have some work to do. Three up: • Five points in two games, including two goals and one assist on Saturday night, propelled forward Jake Guentzel to the top of NCAA scoring charts with 16 points in 10 games. Give Guentzel some credit for helping the Mavericks jump up to the sixth spot in the rankings after helping the team advance to the Frozen Four last season. • Though disappointed with ... Read More