Clearing the front of the net an area of focus for the Penguins

Top to bottom the Detroit Red Wings may be the deepest team in the National Hockey League. Where the Red Wings exploited the Penguins last season was their ability to cause havoc in front of the net. Led by gritty winger Tomas Holmstrom, the Red Wings have a “front of the net presence” on their top three lines. Holmstrom caused the Penguins problems in the 08 playoffs and Pittsburgh will have their hands full with Holmstrom again this time around. While Holmstrom will look to establish his presence early in game 1, the Penguins primary concern is going to be tough rugged winger Johan Franzen. Franzen (19 pts) leads the Red Wings in playoff scoring and he is not nicknamed

For the Wings, health problems could be a factor against the Penguins

The Detroit Red Wings weren’t extended in the Western Conference finals, but they did encounter health problems that could be a factor against the Penguins in the next round. Center Pavel Datsyuk was sidelined in the final three games of the series, while defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom sat out the final two encourters. Lidstrom will play in the Stanley Cup Finals opener on Saturday night, but the status of Datsyuk and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson is uncertain at this time. Datsyuk and Lidstrom may be the two most important players on the Red Wings roster. Detroit is one of the deepest teams in the league, a fact that was apparent in the 2-1 overtime clincher against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night,

Guerin outproducing Hossa in the playoffs

The addition of Bill Guerin has ended up being Ray Shero’s “Hossa” trade of 2009. Ray Shero will always be remembered for striking a last minute deal with the Atlanta Thrashers to acquire Marian Hossa last winter. The addition of Hossa put the Penguins above the rest in the Eastern Conference as they steamrolled into the Stanley Cup Finals with a 12-2 record through the first three rounds. At age 38, Bill Guerin does not measure up to Hossa when it comes to skill vs skill. What Guerin brings to the table is intangiables on and off the ice and without him, the Penguins wouldn’t be in this situation. He has been that important to the team. When the Penguins

Earning a berth to the Cup Finals, a special moment for the organization

Earning a berth to the Stanley Cup Finals was emotional for the Penguins organization Tuesday night. The team has under-gone a lot of change since last year’s run to the finals, including a coaching change which sparked the Penguins dramatic turnaround in mid-February. It was a special night for the organization and there wasn’t a prouder person in the locker room following the game than owner Mario Lemieux. Lemieux has taking more of role in the day to day operations over the past year as the Penguins have evolved into a Stanley Cup Contender. Lemieux and Sidney Crosby share a close bond as Crosby has grown as a person and a player under Lemieux’s wing. The two shared a good

2009 Stanley Cup Finals: Pittsburgh vs Detroit

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings will meet for a rematch in the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 1 @DET is Saturday (8:00 p.m.) and Game 2 @DET is Sunday night. Game 3 @PIT is Tuesday, June 2nd (8:00 p.m.), and Game 4 @PIT will be played on Thursday, June 4th (8:00 p.m.) Games 5-7 Game 5: Saturday, June 6th, @Detroit (8:00 p.m.) Game 6: Tuesday, June 9th, @Pittsburgh (8:00 p.m.) Game 7: Friday June 12th, @Detroit (8:00 p.m.)

Pittsburgh Penguins sign defenseman Robert Bortuzzo

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to a three-year entry-level contract through 2012. Bortuzzo, 20, appeared in 23 games during his third season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He collected 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) along with 24 penalty minutes this season after missing the start of the season with a shoulder injury. The 6-4, 207 pound, blue-liner finished third among defenseman in scoring with 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) for the Rangers during the 2007-08 season. Bortuzzo played in 52 contests with Kitchener, helping the Rangers win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy for the best overall record in the OHL last season. He contributed eight assists in 18 playoff games for

Penguins advance to the Stanley Cup Finals; beat Canes 4-1

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are headed back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive year. Ruslan Fedotenko and Max Talbot each scored first period goals and Bill Guerin scored at 12:10 of the second period as the Penguins jumped out to a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. Marc Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Craig Adams added an empty net goal as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 Tuesday night at the RBC Center to complete a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes and earn a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. Pittsburgh becomes the first team since the 1984 Edmonton Oilers to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, the year after losing

Penguins not looking ahead as they look to close out the series tonight

Pittsburgh leads series, 3-0 The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins each went through their final preparations this morning for game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Pittsburgh was loose and looked like a team that is up 3-0 in a series. Based on what we’re hearing and the rotation of seven defensemen during the morning skate, Philippe Boucher will be in the lineup tonight and the Penguins will dress seven defensemen for the seventh consecutive game. Pittsburgh has won 5 of six games when dressing seven defensemen in the playoffs. If Pittsburgh wins tonight they will become the first team since the 1984 Edmonton Oilers to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, the year after losing in the finals. Carolina

NHL: Western Conference GM has his sights set on Jordan Staal

NHL Draft will see plenty of trade talk The NHL Draft is less than 4 weeks away and there will be plenty of movement as teams look to shed salary in the wake of the salary cap decreasing by $2-$2.5 million. Among the big names currently being shopped are Anaheim’s Chris Pronger, and Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier, Ryan Malone. We’re hearing

Mike Zigomanis goes through full practice on Monday

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Mike Zigomanis went through a full practice Monday afternoon and skated on a line with Eric Godard and Petr Sykora. Zigomanis under-went shoulder surgery on January 14th and is healthy enough to return to the lineup. Sources tell me Zigomanis will be taking off of IR in the next couple days. Zigomanis has been skating since early April and was cleared for contact,