A wrench keeps getting thrown into Ray Shero's plans. At the beginning of the season, Shero was looking to move a defenseman, that was until the Penguins lost their top four defensemen to injury. Tthe latest injury, Pascal Dupuis going down for possibly the rest of the season with a knee injury, will have a significant impact on the rest of the Penguins moving forward. Dupuis' loss increases the chances of the Pens making one impactful trade or a few mid level trades. Due to their lack of ... Read More
End of the year wrap up for Pittsburgh sports
With the 2013 year winding down, Pittsburgh Sporting News brings you the best and worst of this year in Pittsburgh sports: Game of the year Pirates defeat Reds in the Wild Card "Cuetttttoooooo. Cuetttttttoooooo." The Pirates finally became contenders and the fans took out 20 years of frustration on the Cincinnati Reds. The Bucs crushed the Reds 8-2 and advanced to the NLDS, falling one win short of a Championship series berth. Athlete of the year Andrew McCutchen squeaks by Antonio ... Read More
Neal’s hat trick pushes Pens over Blue Jackets
As the Penguins gradually start to assemble all of their key pieces to what will hopefully be a Stanley Cup Championship puzzle, Sidney Crosby and James Neal continue to lead the way. James Neal tallied a hat trick and five points while Sidney Crosby add a goal and two assists of his own to route the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3, Sunday night. The Penguins were deadlocked in a 2-2 tie going into the third period before exploding with three goals in the final frame. The Jackets didn't go ... Read More
Pens’ defensive puzzle isn’t so complex
The Penguins recent spate of injuries to both the forwards and defensive corps has been a blessing without much of a disguise. It has also exposed excellent drafting and poor off-season decisions. Let’s begin with excellent drafting. The play of Olli Maatta and Simon Despres on the blue line has been excellent. Both are former first round picks. Both have shown top 4 pairing ability and consistency. So why was Rob Scuderi signed?! Oh wait, we’ll get to the log jam and poor ... Read More
Sens crush Penguins; Dupuis injured
The Penguins did something they haven't done in awhile while enduring what seems to be a common theme all season. Pittsburgh lost for just the second time in December and the first time in eight games Monday night to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Center. Ottawa took a 2-0 lead into the final frame then dominated the third period with three more goals en route to a 5-0 victory. But the worst news for Pittsburgh occurred early in the game when Pascal Dupuis left the game with a right ... Read More
Orpik lets Thornton, NHL off the hook
So our weather worn, Pennsylvania license plates have been right all along. We, on the other hand, got it all wrong, Pittsburgh. Brooks Orpik would like everyone to believe that Shawn Thornton is a really swell guy. You've got a friend. It's been a little more than two weeks since the Bruins defenseman cowardly snuck an unbeknownst Orpik down to the ice, and sucker punched him. Orpik was consequently taken off the ice on a stretcher, and Thornton received a 15-game suspension for the ... Read More
Pens cling to 4-3 win over Calgary
When it's going your way, it's going your way. The Pittsburgh Penguins held off the Calgary Flames in a 4-3 victory to extend their home win streak to ten games and seven games overall. Calgary outshot the Penguins 30-23 and held a heavy shot advantage in the first and third periods of the game. But Marc-Andre Fleury made several key saves and the Penguins' offense was opportunistic. Pascal Dupuis scored midway through the first period with a grinding shift from the top line. Dupuis ... Read More
Bylsma’s system has led the team to success
Early in the season, Dan Bylsma was under a bit of pressure as many felt the Penguins, loaded with talent, were underperforming. Thirty-seven games into the season, the Penguins are 26-10-1, winners of six straight, lead the Metropolitan division by 14 points and the hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference. As previously mentioned, for a team of this caliber and talent, shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. However, when you consider the Penguins' top four defenseman have been plagued ... Read More
Pens roll in 5-2 win over Wild
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been nearly invincible at home this season, posting a 16-3-0 record and Thursday night's matchup against the Minnesota Wild proved exactly why. The Penguins dominated the Wild for most of the night leading to a 5-2 victory to move the win streak to six straight. It was a night for homecomings at Consol Energy Center. James Neal returned from a five game suspension and Matt Cooke returned to Pittsburgh for the first time since last season. The Penguins honor ... Read More
Pens win fifth straight on Sutter’s shootout goal
The Penguins just keep on rolling no matter who is missing from the lineup. Pittsburgh defeated the New York Rangers, Wednesday night, at Madison Square Garden thanks to a shootout goal from Brandon Sutter in the fifth frame. With a heavy list of star players missing due to injury and suspension, the Penguins climbed out to a 3-1 lead before seeing it disintegrate late in the third period. Chris Kunitz broke a scoreless tie with his 18th goal of the season 12:44 into the second period. ... Read More