Seth Rorabaugh stories, Page 74
Minor league report: Penguins, Nailers each lose season finalesVideo
Defenseman Ty Smith and forward Valtteri Puustinen each had a goal and two assists for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who lost their season finale, 5-4, in overtime to the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. Forward Drake Caggiula recorded two assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (26-32-8-6) while forwards Ty...
The Penguins limp into an early offseason with an uncertain future
Sidney Crosby detests free time. He abhors it almost as much as a clingy opposing third-line center hassling him for a puck or yapping personal insults. So, given the Pittsburgh Penguins’ failure to qualify for the NHL’s postseason that begins Monday, this won’t be an enjoyable summer for the team’s...
Minor league report: Goaltender Joel Blomqvist debuts as Penguins loseVideo
In his season debut at the American Hockey League level, goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 23 saves on 27 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-0 road loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. on Friday. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ second-round pick (No. 52 overall)...
The future of the Penguins hockey operations remains to be seen
The Pittsburgh Penguins were supposed to be off Friday. Typically, a day after their regular season finale, they take a respite to heal injuries and clear their heads before they gear up for the postseason. And that certainly did take place on Friday. Just without the part of preparing for...
Penguins fire general manager Ron Hextall and president Brian Burke
At the beginning, it was almost absurd. Comical, even. One of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ greatest villains became their general manager. In the end, he became vilified for completely different reasons few could laugh at (outside Philadelphia). On Friday, Ron Hextall’s tenure as the 11th general manager in the history of...
Analysis: A stunning lack of support for veteran stars torpedoed Penguins’ season
Ron Hextall was almost indignant over the question. On July 13, less than a day after he had re-signed superstar center Evgeni Malkin — to say nothing of his successful efforts in re-signing franchise defenseman Kris Letang seven days earlier — Hextall was asked what gave him faith that retaining...
Penguins enter offseason after overtime loss to Blue Jackets
Sidney Crosby did something he hasn’t accomplished with much frequency throughout his nonpareil career. Play every game of a regular season. With Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in nearby Columbus, Ohio, Crosby suited up for this 82nd contest of the 2022-23 campaign. It marked...
Penguins assign defenseman Mark Friedman to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) after clearing waivers Thursday afternoon. Having bounced between the NHL and AHL rosters much of the season, Friedman, a right-handed shot, has appeared in 23 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored three points (one...
Minor league report: Nailers’ win streak reaches 3
Two goals by forward Keltie Jeri-Leon led the Wheeling Nailers to a 5-2 road win against the Iowa Heartlanders at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Wednesday. Forward Ross Krieger had a goal and an assist for Wheeling (28-36-5-0) while defenseman Chris Ortiz contributed two assists. Goaltender Brad Barone made...
Penguins eliminated from postseason contention after Islanders beat Canadiens
For the first time since 2006, the Pittsburgh Penguins have failed to qualify for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. They were formally eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday by virtue of the New York Islanders claiming a 4-2 home win against the Montreal Canadiens at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y....
Penguins’ postseason hopes finally extinguished
Perhaps the only thing sharper than Sidney Crosby’s dagger of a backhander is his comprehensive memory. Ask him about any random game in November 2008 or some mundane goal a long-departed teammate scored during the late winter of 2014, he can recall seemingly any nugatory detail such as what kind...
Injured Penguins Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor expected to be ‘game-time’ decisions vs. Blue Jackets
Injured Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor are expected to be “game-time” decisions for the team’s regular season finale, a road contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Coach Mike Sullivan provided their statuses following a practice in Cranberry on Wednesday. Pettersson became eligible to be activated from...
Ex-Penguins defenseman Philip Samuelsson signs with Straubing Tigers in Germany
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Philip Samuelsson has signed with the Straubing Tigers of Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The Tigers announced the transaction via release. Samuelsson, 31, was a second-round pick (No. 61 overall) of the Penguins in the 2009 NHL Draft and appeared in five NHL games (with no points)...
Penguins’ playoff hopes dim following ugly loss to Blackhawks
On Feb. 20, Evgeni Malkin tried to rally the Pittsburgh Penguins and everyone with a rooting interest in his scuttling group. “We have a great team here,” the superstar center implored. “I believe (in) everyone. If we play the same, we’ll be in the playoffs for sure.” A mere 50...
Penguins forward Alex Nylander driving to stay in lineup
Alex Nylander has gotten a pretty good view of the bucolic scenes Pennsylvania can offer in the spring. After all, he has driven across the Keystone State plenty of times over the past month and change. “It’s beautiful,” Nylander said. “I don’t need the GPS anymore.” On Tuesday, the skilled...
Penguins defenseman Dmitry Kulikov expected to rejoin to lineup
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is expected to return to the team’s lineup for its regular season home finale against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday. Activated from long-term injured reserve on Tuesday afternoon, Kulikov has been sidelined for the past 14 games due to a suspected left...
Penguins once again recall forward Alex Nylander from Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonVideo
For the fifth time in 36 days, the Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Alex Nylander from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Tuesday’s transaction marks the third time Nylander has been summoned from Northeast Pennsylvania the past week alone. Emergency recalls are permitted when a regular lineup of 12 forwards,...
Minor league report: Penguins shut out by RocketVideo
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 33 saves on 36 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-0 road loss to the Laval Rocket at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec on Monday. It marked the second time Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (26-31-7-6) had been shut out this season. The Penguins have lost seven of their...
Penguins pledge to be at their best after getting some help
The Pittsburgh Penguins looked their best Monday. And they had to. It was team picture day. Before the start of practice at PPG Paints Arena, players wore their white road jerseys and, along with coaches, front office managers, equipment and medical staffers as well as other employees, they assembled at...
Penguins name forward Sidney Crosby as team MVP
Forward Sidney Crosby has been named as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ team MVP for the 2022-23 season. This marks the third consecutive season Crosby has claimed the honor and the 11th time overall. The award is voted on by the players. Having appeared in all 80 of the Penguins’ games to...
Penguins forward Nick Bonino, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov close to returning
Injured Penguins forward Nick Bonino and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov each appear to be close to returning to the team’s lineup, starting with their regular season home finale Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Both players participated in a spirited practice session at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday in full-contact capacities and...
Defenseman Kris Letang selected as Penguins’ nominee for Masterton Trophy
Defenseman Kris Letang was selected as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) on Monday. The award recognizes “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to...
Penguins assign forward Alex Nylander back to Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonVideo
Alex Nylander keeps racking up the miles. On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins assigned the reserve forward to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL). It marked the eighth time this season Nylander has been shuffled between the NHL and AHL rosters with every transaction happening since March 7. On Thursday...
Former Penguins forward Brian Boyle isn’t retired but content being at homeVideo
Like a lot of fathers with a young family, Brian Boyle occasionally has to miss a birthday, practice or recital. He does have to commute to work, after all. In his case at the moment, Boyle has to make the occasional four-hour drive primarily on Interstate 95 from his home...
Minor league report: Penguins snap 7-game losing streakVideo
Two goals and two assists by forward Ty Glover led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to an 8-2 road win against the Bridgeport Islanders at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Saturday. Forwards Drake Caggiula and Nathan Legare each scored two goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (26-30-7-6) which snapped a seven-game losing streak...
