Penguins player reports vs Jets: Poor d-zone play from Neal, other forwards a growing concern
Premium Post-Game Player Reports Game 4 – Friday, January 25, 2013 Penguins @ Jets Centers Sidney Crosby| 2 Goals, even rating, 3 SOG, 2 BS, 4 Hits, 1 GV, 24:07 TOI, 8 FW – 6 FL, 57.1% Crosby scored two first period goals and led the Penguins offensive attack but his two-goal night wasn’t enough for the Penguins. Crosby opened the scoring at 4:26 of the first period, taking a pass from Kunitz in the slot and with Olli Jokinen on him, snuck a snap shot inside Pavelec’s right post for the goal. On Crosby’s second goal of the night at 14:48 of the first period, he came through the neutral zone with speed after taking a pass off the
Pens Notes: Letang introduced by SKA; Malkin’s advantage to repeat as Art Ross Trophy winner if there’s a season
LETANG INTRODUCED (Photo courtesy of KHL) Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was introduced today by SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. Letang will begin playing for SKA immediately and is not waiting around for the lockout to end. MALKIN A GOOD BET TO REPEAT AS ART ROSS TROPHY WINNER IF THERE’S A SEASON? If the NHL ends up having a 48 game season, coaches, evaluators, ect, feel those currently playing overseas are going to have an advantage over those who are currently not playing and just training with other players.
Impact of likely 5 year contract limits would have on the Penguins negotiations with Letang and Malkin
A lost season is expected to lead to a run off of contracts, therefore, players who were entering the final year of their contracts for the 2012-2013 season would become free agents in summer 2013, like they were suppose to regardless of whether there is hockey this season. For the Penguins, unrestricted free agents to be include Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis, Craig Adams, and Ben Lovejoy. There are no significant names out of that group but the money Cooke, Dupuis and Adams would be losing from a lost season is money they will probably never get back. Cooke turns 35 in September and Dupuis coming off a career year, turns 34 in April. Adams who turns 36 in April, could
NHL: Letang next big name Penguin heading to the KHL immediately?
Teams pursuing Letang, Neal
Trade Watch: Pens blueliners in play leading into draft weekend
Since the Penguins ouster in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers, the biggest storyline this off-season was going to be how GM Ray Shero attacked his blueline this off-season, as the team has six defensemen under one-way contracts, three RFA’s in Matt Niskanen, Robert Bortuzzo and Brian Strait who would be qualified, giving the Penguins nine defensemen eligible for waivers next season, in addition to prospect Simon Despres who the Penguins have felt is ready for a jump to be a top-6 defenseman. Nearly two months later, it remains Pittsburgh most pressing off-season question, not Jordan Staal. With strong indications that Penguin management feels Simon Despres and Robert Bortuzzo are ready for full-time roles, the Penguins appear ready to move
Morning Pens Buzz: On Breakdowns vs Sens; Turnaround starts with committment to defense; Scouts take on Pens “finesse” role players
Morning Pens Buzz It was a meltdown for the Penguins Tuesday night, falling to the Ottawa Senators 5-1 on home ice, dropping their 5th straight game. The team was lifeless when it counted and by the time they showed some life after Evgeni Malkin’s second period goal, it was to late. The Penguins have scored six goals in their last five games and anyone can see that number and realize you’re not going to win hockey games with those type of numbers. The high percentage shots are still missing and they were again vs Ottawa. Injuries can be attributed to the Penguins struggles offensively but this is still a team that has Evgeni Malkin and four former 20-goal scorers aside from
Monday Night Pens Buzz: Martin, Park on the mend but the same can’t be said for Crosby or Letang yet
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned from the holiday break today in preparations for Tuesday night’s contest against the Carolina Hurricanes who were victorious tonight, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on home ice. Brandon Sutter scored twice and Cam Ward made 23 saves to earn the win. Carolina took over the game in the second period, outshooting New Jersey, 13-2 and getting goals from Tuomo Ruutu and Anthony Stewart in the period. The Hurricanes (12-19-6, 30 pts) have won two straight and are 14th in the East with 30 points. Pittsburgh (20-11-4, 44 pts) enters Tuesday trailing the New York Rangers (22-8-4, 48 pts) by four points for the conference and division lead. New York shutout the Islanders 3-0 tonight, earning
All-Star Voting: Crosby leads all vote getters; Letang leads D-men in “write-in votes”
All-Star Voting Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby leads all vote getters in the NHL All-Star Fan Balloting Presented by XM with 118,755 votes. Crosby holds a significant lead in votes for forwards, leading Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin (80,169 votes) by more than 38,000 votes. Crosby’s teammate Evgeni Malkin is 10th among forwards with 56,255 votes. Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith is second among vote getters, receiving 82,968 votes. As of today, Crosby, Ovechkin and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews (79,953 votes) would be the three forwards automatically selected to the game along with defensemen Duncan Keith, Nik Lidstrom (80,723 votes) and goaltender Carey Price (71,199 votes). Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos who leads the NHL with 20 goals and is tied for
Gonchar remains top priority
Letang not biting on short-term offer Contract talks with pending free agent Sergei Gonchar have been on-going since Penguins GM Ray Shero and J.P. Barry, the agent for Gonchar, held their first set of substantive talks during the Penguins Western Canada road trip in mid-Janaury. A meeting in Pittsburgh did not happen this weekend between the two sides, but negotiations have been described as “productive” according to a source close to Gonchar. Shero and J.P. Barry intend to hold extensive talks leading up and into the Olympic break, with Pittsburgh currently focused on a three year deal. Penguins GM Ray Shero is truthful that the teams’ priority is to retain Gonchar and young defenseman Kris Letang but Pittsburgh’s top priority
Penguins end five game road trip with 3-2 record
Penguins ended their five game road trip with a 3-2 record after getting wins against Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. The final game in the road trip did not end well but a 3-2 road trip that took the Penguins into Western Canada is a productive five game swing, especially considering the Penguins are 4-7 in their last 11 games. A key coming into the road trip was the play of Marc Andre Fleury and Fleury was tremendous in 3 of 4 games. Despite getting off to a 3-1 start, defensive breakdowns were a problem for the entire road trip, and breakdowns in the D-zone came to the forefront in Saturday’s 6-2 loss with Fleury sidelined with a fractured finger.