Throughout the Penguins offseason, most of the attention of the fans, the media and the front office was the team’s group of forwards. General manager Jim Rutherford took great strides forward in his second offseason with the club, bringing Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino, Sergei Plotnikov, Eric Fehr and Matt Cullen to an already-talented group of forwards. What wasn’t addressed was the team’s defense. Through five preseason games, it seems that it may be an issue. They’ve given up 12 goals in the ... Read More
AM Joe: Steelers turn to Vick; Bucs host Cardinals
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Monday, September 28, 2015. What's on tap for today: Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will hold his weekly press conference today at noon, and more information is expected to be revealed about the extent of starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's left knee injury and how the Steelers plan to move past the loss of their franchise player. ROOT Sports Pittsburgh The Penguins (2-2-0) will travel to Quebec City, Quebec for the first ... Read More
AM Joe: Cubs, Pirates both get help; StL lead down to three
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Saturday, September 26, 2015. What's on tap for today: The Chicago Cubs (89-64) clinched a playoff berth yesterday anyway, despite losing to the Pirates (94-60), as the San Francisco Giants lost to the Oakland A's last night. The Pirates got some help of their own as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals to bring the Pirates to three games out of first place. Even more worrisome for the Cardinals is the potential loss ... Read More
AM Joe: Bucs face Cubs in crucial NL Central matchup
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Friday, September 25, 2015. What's on tap for today: Since losing three-of-four to the Chicago Cubs (89-63) in Pittsburgh, last week, the Pirates (93-60) have won six of their last seven games. Despite their recent success, they haven't gained much ground on their NL Central rivals. They remain four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals and just three games ahead of the Cubs, who the Pirates will visit at Wrigley Field for a three-game ... Read More
Pens announce schedule for ‘Pittsburgh Gold’ alternates
“Pittsburgh Gold” is back. The Penguins hugely popular throwback alternate jerseys that were introduced last season will make a return appearance for the 2015-16 campaign, the team announced on Thursday. The Penguins will wear their third sweaters 11 times at Consol Energy Center this season: Thurs. Oct. 29 vs. Buffalo Wed. Nov. 11 vs. Montreal Tue. Nov. 17 vs. Minnesota Sat. Nov. 28 vs. Edmonton Fri. Dec. 18 vs. Boston Sat. Jan. 2 vs. New York Islanders Thurs. Jan. 21 vs. ... Read More
AM Joe: Bucs clinch; go for four-game sweep today
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Thursday, September 24, 2015. What's on tap for today: Pirates (92-60) will have an afternoon contest against against the Colorado Rockies (63-80). Despite earning a playoff berth last night, the Bucs still have work to do, as they trail the St. Louis Cardinals by four games in the NL Central. Jeff Locke will make what could be his final start of his season against Chad Bettis at 3:10 p.m. ROOT Sports ... Read More
Penguins make two roster moves
The Penguins made a pair of minor cuts on Wednesday morning after their second preseason game. General manager Jim Rutherford announced that right-wingers Tom Kostopoulos and Jaden Lindo have been cut from the training camp roster. Kostopoulos, 36, is the captain of the Penguins American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will report to their training camp, which begins later this week. He is under an AHL contract for the 2015-16 season, and as a result, will not have to clear ... Read More
Bridgeville’s Liam Walsh takes game to USHL
In 2011, four players from the Pittsburgh amateur hockey system went in the first three rounds NHL Draft, products of the amateur hockey boom after Mario Lemieux and the Penguins won consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Liam Walsh, a local 1999 birth year, leads a second wave of Pittsburgh hockey talent raised on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the homegrown players now in the NHL. Walsh, a left winger, made the final roster for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United State ... Read More
AM Joe: Kessel sparkles in Pens debut
Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here's your day in sports for Wednesday, September 22, 2015. What's on tap for today: Pirates (91-60) couldn't get the help they needed to clinch a playoff spot last night, but they can do it on their own accord tonight. The Colorado Rockies (63-88) again stand in the way. Charlie Morton will face Christian Bergman at 8:40 p.m. ROOT Sports Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh headlines: The Pirates staked J.A. Happ to an early lead, and he and the bullpen cruised to a 6-3 ... Read More
Beau Bennett off to strong start in crucial season
Sidney Crosby skated with newly acquired right winger Phil Kessel at the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp over the weekend, forming a combination expected to dominate the NHL in the upcoming season, but another roster fixture paired with new member of the team stuck out during the drills at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township. Beau Bennett, a fragile, underperforming forward, gelled with Nick Bonino, the probable third line center acquired via trade in the offseason. Bennett ... Read More