LATEST ROBERT BORTUZZO RUMORS Is Robert Bortuzzo a prime in-season extension candidate for the Penguins?
Mark Letestu
Sunday’s Camp Analysis: Crosby showing progress; Neal’s transition to RW
Sunday’s Camp Observations & Buzz The biggest positive for the Penguins through two on-ice sessions is the progress of Sidney Crosby. Crosby for the second straight day went through another practice session, participating in all drills with his teammates. [instory] What was impressive today with Crosby was his ability in traffic and the way he battled. Crosby went hard in drills, going full exertion and of note even took several reps as a primary backchecker in a forecheck/backcheck drill mid-way through practice. “They were both all out, ” Crosby said on the exertion of today’s practice. Today was a little bit tougher because yesterday was the first day of going that hard and on back to back days.”
Latest Penguins Buzz: Malkin at wing or center impacts several players on depth chart
The Latest Penguins Buzz Staal to wing talk *Don’t buy into any talk out there of Jordan Staal getting an extended look at wing in training camp. I’m told there are no plans to explore a possible move to wing for Staal. His spot in the lineup will be in his normal third line center role or 2nd line center spot with Malkin at wing. Bylsma hints at Malkin to wing again *The Penguins remain very intrigued about the Staal/Malkin experiment that never got to happen last season. Dan Bylsma again last week referred to Evgeni Malkin as playing wing, via Tribune-Review. Although expectations are eventually that the Penguins are going to end up with their normal three center model when it’s all said and done, the Staal (center)/ Malkin (wing) experiment is going to get an extended look, likely starting in training camp and very early into next season.Read More »
As playoffs inch closer, Bylsma looking for Letestu-Kovalev to hit their stride together
DePaoli’s Latest Pens Buzz Dan Bylsma not only believes that the return of Mark Letestu will be a boost for the Penguins in the face-off circle but Bylsma also see’s Letestu as the best fit for Alex Kovalev. “I think the best player on our roster to gel with Kovalev is Mark Letestu, ” Bylsma said today. “It’s a bit on how he supports the puck…
Farm Report: Jeffrey leads Wilkes Barre to 4-3 win
Jeffrey leads Wilkes Barre to 4-3 win Dustin Jeffrey (9, 10) scored two goals and an assist as the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated the Adirondack Phantoms 4-3 Monday night at Wachovia Arena to earn their third straight victory. Jeffrey who has made the transition to wing in the past couple weeks, has a team high 35 points on the season and has found great chemistry with linemates Mark Letestu and Nick Johnson. Nick Johnson added three assists as the Penguins top line combined for 7 points. Lane Caffaro (1) added his first goal of the season at 5:41 of the 1st period. Top prospect Eric Tangradi (6) scored the game winner at 14:49 of the third period. Tangradi is off to a slow start, playing a third line role of late, recording 10 points in 25 games played this season. Defenseman Brian Strait led all defensemen with a plus/minus ratingRead More »
Tuesday Practice Report: Penguins get back to work after disappointing loss
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to the ice this morning after Monday nights disappointing loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Head coach Dan Bylsma talked today how the Penguins lacked focus as the Penguins have given up the first goal in seven straight games. One player who did not practice today was Mark Letestu, who was re-assigned to Wilkes Barre/Scranton this morning. Letestu played a strong game Saturday night against Chicago but was a healthy scratch Monday night. Defenseman Alex Goligoski practiced for the second straight day and barring a setback, expects to return to the lineup Thursday night in Montreal. With two full practices before Thursday’s game, the power play will be a top priority for the coaching staff like it is for many practices. Pittsburgh ranks 28th in the league on the power play. One change that will be made is Alex Goligoski replacing Kris Letang at the left pointRead More »
Canes earn first road win; Malkin becoming too much of a playmaker?
Post-Game Notebook Manny Legace made 30 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes (7-17-5) picked up their first road win of the season, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-10-1) 3-2 Monday night at Mellon Arena. The win snapped a 13 game road winless streak for the Hurricanes as Legace improved his career record against Pittsburgh to 4-0. For one of the rare times this season, the Hurricanes played the type of game that got them to the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. At least they did in the first and third periods. Andrew Alberts and Jussi Jokinen scored in the first to put the Hurricanes up 2-0 and Ray Whitney scored 2:26 into the second period as the Canes jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead. Against the Stanley Cup champs, no lead is safe and the quick strike Penguins fought back. Sidney Crosby (20) scored at the six minute mark in theRead More »
The Latest Penguins Buzz
Center Mark Letestu is not a player whose regarded as being in the Penguins long-term plans or even considered one of the organizations top 10 prospects. Letestu though has the confidence of head coach Dan Bylsma which can go a long way. His ability on face-offs along with some offensive ability has caught the eye of Penguins mangement. He reminds one member of the Penguins organization of Mike Zigomanis but with higher upside. Letestu was 9-for-16 on draws against the Blackhawks and drew the assignment of going up against John Madden at 18:21 of the third period in what led to Jordan Staal’s game tying goal. Letestu’s stay in Pittsburgh will be short as Sidney Crosby expected to return to the lineup by Thursday night but Pittsburgh likes the fact that he’s a right handed centerman as Craig Adams has struggled this season on draws. Letestu could groom into aRead More »
Penguins improve to 6-0 on the road; beat Blue Jackets 4-3 in SO
Pittsburgh 4 – Columbus 3 Through 13 games, the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to find ways to win in any fashion. Tonight it was erasing a two-goal deficit with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Down 3-1 late in the third period, Ruslan Fedotenko and Alex Goligoski scored in a 39-second span to tie the game at 3-3 and force over-time. After a scoreless shootout, backup goaltender Brent Johnson went 3-for-3 in the shootout and Sidney Crosby scored the only goal as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Friday night at the Nationwide Arena. Pittsburgh improved to 11-2 on the season and 6-0 on the road. Crosby led the way for the Penguins with two assists and scoring the shootout winner which was a fluky goal that eluded goaltender Steve Mason.
Headlines
Fleury gets rocked in return to Pittsburgh
Marc Andre Fleury’s return to Pittsburgh didn’t just not go well, it was a downright disaster for the 2021 Vezina Trophy Winner. Pittsburgh scored 15 seconds into the game and the route was on as Fleury was pulled 11:25 into the first period after allowing 4 goals on 10 ...
Rumors: Juju Smith-Schuster likely out for the year
The Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reports Pittsburgh Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster suffered a likely season ending shoulder injury in Sunday’s 27-19 win over the Denver Broncos. Returning to Pittsburgh on a one year contract, Smith-Schuster faces an uncertain futu...