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,
Monday’s Practice Report; Penguins prepare for game 4 of the East Finals
The Pittsburgh Penguins just concluded their afternoon practice as the team prepares for game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals Tuesday night. After going through an optional practice Sunday afternoon, the Penguins went through a full squad practice today. Up 3-0 in the series, the Penguins are focused on ending the series Tuesday night and earning their second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. Lines in practice were Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin Fedotenko – Malkin – Talbot Cooke – Staal – Kennedy Dupuis – Adams – Satan Winning 5 of 6 games when dressing seven defensemen, it is unlikely that head coach Dan Bylsma will alter his lineup. According to my source on the scene the Penguins went
Penguins transition game clicking on all cylinders
The Penguins have scored 13 goals in their last two games, the Hurricanes have no answers for the Penguins transition game as the Penguins have recorded 40+ shots in consecutive games and the Hurricanes have no answers for Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. It’s a recipe for disaster against an offensive team like the Penguins whose transition game fuels their offensive attack. The way the Hurricanes are being overmatched is similar to how the Penguins were overmatched in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings last spring At times the Canes have played the Penguins even, but the just like the Wings did, the better team pulls away late in games. The Latest
Malkin, Crosby push Hurricanes on the brink of elimination
Pittsburgh leads series, 3-0 Evgeni Malkin (2goals, 1 assist) and Sidney Crosby (1goal, 1 assist) combined for 5 pts and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 Saturday night at the RBC Center to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-1 first period lead on two goals from Evgeni Malkin (12) and one from Sidney Crosby(14) as the Penguins never trailed after the first period. Just as in game 2, the Hurricanes had no answers in game 3 on how to slow down the games top duo. Crosby and Malkin have combined for 11 points in their past two games and Malkin recorded his 6th consecutive multi-point game in
Canes face must-win situation as Penguins look to take 3-0 series lead
Pittsburgh leads series, 2-0 The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins are going through their early preparations as both teams prepare for game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday night. The Penguins accomplished what they wanted to in game 2, setting the tempo and playing aggressive in the offensive zone. Pittsburgh managed 42 shots on goal and dictated the play by countering the Hurricanes aggressive forecheck with a quick moving transition game. Canes look to shutdown Crosby, Malkin A major concern for the Hurricanes is finding a way to slow down Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Hurricanes do not have the personnel to shutdown Crosby, Malkin and look for them to make some adjustments on defense such as trying
Ruutu participates in morning skate
Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu participated in Today’s morning skate and will be a game time decision for game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Ruutu, a 26 goal scorer in the regular season, suffered an ankle injury in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and did not play in game 2 Ruutu skated with Jussi Jokinen and Sergei Samsonov in the morning skating. Ruutu’s mobility and lateral movement looked good and he will likely give it a go unless he doesn’t suffer a setback this afternoon.
Malkin’s Hat Trick powers Penguins to 7-4 win
Pittsburgh leads series, 2-0 Evgeni Malkin had a hat trick including two third period goals and added an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 7-4 Thursday night to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. A display of world class talent and up and down hockey was front and center as the teams combined for five goals in the first period.
Hurricanes have no answers to slow down Crosby, Malkin
The Carolina Hurricanes are in a 0-2 hole in the Eastern Conference Finals as they head home to Raleigh for a must win situation Saturday night. 229 times a road team has fallen into a 0-2 hole in a series and only 22 times have teams come back to win a series in that situation. The odds are against the Hurricanes and their biggest concern is finding a way to neutralize the Penguins dynamic 1-2 punch down the middle in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin took his game to a next level Thursday night, recording a hat trick and an assist as the Hurricanes had no answer on how to slow down Malkin from the drop of the
Game 2 Pregame Report: Penguins look for quicker transition game
When the Penguins moved to an up-tempo system under head coach Dan Bylsma, the difference was putting a strong emphasis on being aggressive in the neutral zone and quicker movement in their transition game. Where the Penguins believe they can exploit the Hurricanes is through a quick transition game tonight. The Penguins managed 31 shots on goal in game 1, slightly under their average against the Capitals. Because of how aggressive the Hurricanes are on the fore-check, the Penguins see an opportunity that if they can counter the Hurricanes aggressive fore-check with a quick transition game, it will lead to scoring chances and odd-man rushes. This is a reason the Penguins put a strong emphasis on their transition game in