Post-Morning Skate: Penguins loose, confident going into Game 7

  Post-Morning Skate Update James Neal video from William DePaoli Despite losing two of the last three games in the series, including two straight, the Penguins were a loose and collected group this morning at the Consol Energy Center. I feel It was important for them to go through a full skate this morning after having several optional skates of late and the team doesn’t appear rattled or feeling any kind of pressure of being the home team tonight and possibly blowing a 3-1 series lead. Audio Link: Dan Bylsma Game 7 Audio A key for the Penguins tonight is just getting back to doing what they do well and you could sense in the locker room that they’re expecting

Post-Practice Update: Tangradi expected to come out of the lineup

Notes from Today’s Skate SOUTHPOINTE — The Penguins went through about a 45 minute skate today at Southpointe. The Lightning are scheduled to skate at 2:30 p.m. today. Forward Chris Kunitz coming off his one game suspension was back on the ice in his regular spot alongside Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy on the Penguins top line. Dan Bylsma after practice said that who comes out of the lineup will be a game time decision tomorrow but all indications are Eric Tangradi is coming out and Chris Conner stays in. Tangradi spent the entire practice as the odd-man out skating on the 5th line with Matt Cooke and Eric Godard. Tangradi also didn’t see any power play time during 5-on-4

Game 2 Penguins – Lightning Morning Skate Update

Game 2 Morning Skate Update PITTSBURGH — No real news out of today’s skate, which is expected as the Penguins are coming off a 3-0 Game 1 victory. All players were accounted for, including the extras Sidney Crosby, Mike Comrie, Eric Godard and Eric Tangradi. Crosby again is participating in today’s skate, skating on a line with Mike Comrie and Eric Godard. Crosby is expected to be up in managements booth again tonight. The Penguins top-4 lines will remain the same tonight and it appears unlikely that any changes will be made with the Penguins third pairing. Matt Niskanen’s remains apart of the 2nd power play unit which makes it difficult for Deryk Engelland to get into the lineup. Lines

Pens – Panthers Game Day Buzz: Good opportunity to start Johnson in goal

Penguins (45-25-8, 98 pts) @ Panthers (29-37-12, 70 pts) Despite losing two straight games, the Philadelphia Flyers remain in striking distance for the Pittsburgh Penguins. A longshot to say the least but Pittsburgh only trails Philadelphia by four points and each team has 4 games remaining. The Penguins have a favorable schedule the rest of the way with games against non-playoff teams Florida, New Jersey, New York Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers. However, the Penguins worries is not catching Philadelphia but holding off the Tampa Bay Lightning for the No.4 seed in the East. In reality the division title is not that important but what’s important is for the Penguins to gain some momentum going into the playoffs. Right now

Post-Morning Skate Update: Pens expecting different Flyers team tonight

Post-Morning Skate Update — In the midst of a 9-2-2 run, the Penguins have surged near the top of the Atlantic Division and appear to be in the Philadelphia Flyers head a little bit. The Penguins have put the heat on Philadelphia and the Penguins are expecting a different Flyers team tonight. As Pittsburgh put on an impressive performance in Thursday’s 2-1 shootout win, controlling the play for much of the game, the Flyers surprisingly lacked the kind of intensity the Penguins are accustomed of seeing when the two rivals get together. Some Flyers players even called last Thursday’s game an embarrassing performance by them and they are stressing a different tune tonight. The Penguins are expecting a playoff atmosphere

Panthers @ Penguins Pre-Game Lineup Notes: Pens look to avoid trap game

Panthers (29-36-10, 68 pts) @ Penguins (44-23-8, 96 pts) When: 1:13 p.m. | Where: Consol Energy Center TV: Fox Sports Pittsburgh | Radio: 105.9 the X Game Buzz The Penguins come into today’s game four points behind the Philadelphia Flyers and the Penguins will be looking to avoid a trap game today with Tuesday’s showdown at home looming against Philadelphia. Despite losing Sidney Crosby and having over 310 man-games lost, the Penguins have remained in contention for the division title, without much scoring production since Crosby’s injury and a lackluster power play. Since January 6, Pittsburgh ranks 26th in the NHL in goals per game and their meager power play is 3 for their last 52. Yet, the Penguins have

Pens-Rangers Pre Game Notes: Lundqvist vs Fleury; Conner in

New York Rangers (38-30-4, 80 pts) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (41-22-8, 90 pts) When: 12:30 p.m. | Where: Consol Energy Center | TV: NBC GAME BUZZ The regular season ends in three weeks and the playoff races in the Eastern Conference are heating up. The New York Rangers, winners of three straight, enter today’s action with a two point lead over No.8 Buffalo and a four point lead over the ninth seeded Carolina Hurricanes. Henrik Lundqvist (41-22-8) who is 3-1-1 with a 2.35 goals against average this season against Pittsburgh, will get the start this afternoon, despite a stiff neck that put his status into question, as of yesterday. Lundqvist will make his 17 straight start and the Rangers look to

Game 70 Pre-Game Notes: Fleury in; Niskanen won’t play

Game 70 Edmonton Oilers (23-37-9, 55 pts) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (39-22-8, 86 pts) Time: 3:00 p.m. | Where: Consol Energy Center PIT Home Record: 21-12-2 | EDM Road Record: 11-18-5 PIT Last 10: 3-3-4 | EDM Last 10: 4-5-1 Game Buzz PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins will be shorthanded on the blueline today. Defenseman Matt Niskanen is sidelined with an illness and will not play. The Penguins did not learn of Niskanen’s illness until just hours before the game and do not have enough time to recall a defenseman from Wilkes Barre/Scranton. The Penguins will go with 5 defenseman today and are expected to use 13 forwards up front, which will get Chris Conner back into the lineup. — Goaltender

Game 67: Penguins Game Day: Kunitz to miss 13th straight game

Game 67 Pittsburgh Penguins (37-21-8, 82pts) @ Boston Bruins (38-19-7, 83pts) Time: 7:00 p.m | Where: TD Bank Garden Season Series: Boston leads, 2-1 Streaking: Boston has won 7 straight | PIT has not a won a regulation game since Feb. 4 and are 3-6-4 in their last 13 games Game Buzz The red-hot Boston Bruins look to extend their winning streak to eight games when the Penguins and Bruins wrapup their season series tonight in Boston. The Bruins and Penguins have been two teams going in different directions as Pittsburgh has not won in regulation since February 4th and are 3-6-4 in their last 13 games. Pittsburgh though remains in contention for the top spot in the Eastern Conference