The Latest Penguins Buzz
The Penguins March to the playoffs continued on Friday with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Pittsburgh is now 10-0-2 in their last 12 games and the Penguins have scored 16 goals in their last three games. The Penguins have a divisional showdown with the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at Mellon Arena. The Flyers and Penguins are tied with 86 points but the Flyers currently have three games in hand. For now they have a hold on the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Forward Craig Adams was very noticeable in Friday’s 4-1 win over the LA Kings. Adams was a scratch for the previous three games and with him in the lineup the Penguins are a much
Penguins, Kings lineup news
LA Kings (30-30-10-70) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (38-26-8-84) Kings Lineup Purcell-Kopitar-Brown Frolov-Stoll-Williams Calder-Handzus-Harrold Ivanans-Armstrong-Simmonds Defensemen O’Donnell-Doughty Quincey-Johnson Greene- Drewiske Jonathan Quick will start in goal Lineup news: The LA Kings will get a much needed boost with the addition of Justin Williams who will play in his first game for the Kings tonight. Williams was traded from Carolina to LA at the trade deadline but has been injured since being dealt on March 4th. Hard hitting defenseman Denis Gauthier did not make the trip to Pittsburgh and will miss tonight’s game with a shoulder injury. Pittsburgh native John Zeiler will not be in the lineup. Pittsburgh forward Craig Adams is
Kings, Panthers, Canucks to make major play for Marian Hossa
Marian Hossa is in the middle of negotiations with the Detroit Red Wings on a 7 year deal worth $6 million per season but he will have the opportunity to cash in big during free agency. League sources claim LA Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi is prepared to break the bank to land Hossa as the Kings are seeking a top tier winger to play alongside Anze Kopitar. The Vancouver Canucks who made a 6 year offer to Hossa last summer will be in the mix again as Canucks forward Pavel Demitra, a close friend of Hossa will hope to lure Hossa to Vancouver. The other team being mentioned that are prepared to make a major offer to Hossa if
PENGUINS PROSPECT CHAD JOHNSON NAMED CCHA Player of the year
Penguins prospect Chad Johnson was named Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Player of the Year yesterday. The 22-year old goaltender has a record of 12-10-4 with a save percentage of .937 and a goals-against average of 1.70 with the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks. Johnson ranks second in the NCAA in save percentage and third in goals-against average. He was named CCHA Goalie of the Week on three occasions this season (Nov. 23, Dec.1 and Jan. 19). He is an All-American and a finalist for the 2009 Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey. The senior Nanook has an overall record of 23-29-10 in four years with Alaska. The native of Calgary, Alberta was selected by the Penguins in
Kings will be in must-win situation Friday night at Mellon Arena
Dustin Brown scored with 34 seconds left in overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings (30-30-10) a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins Thursday night. The Kings rallied from two down, to get a much needed win as they’re five points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles travels to Pittsburgh for a matchup against the league’s hottest team Friday night. The Kings will be in another must-win situation. Don’t expect to see Pittsburgh native John Zeiler in the lineup for the Kings tomorrow night. Zeiler was a scratch once again Thursday night.
Source: Zigomanis four to six weeks ahead of schedule
Zigomanis to begin contact drills in 4 weeks?
Penguins to let Ruslan Fedotenko walk in free agency?
One goal in his last 18 games and seeking some long-term security such as a two year deal. Will the Penguins make an attempt to re-sign forward Ruslan Fedotenko? Read more for the latest Insider Report & more
Malkins’ 5 point night, powers Penguins past Thrashers
Penguins 6 – Thrashers 2 Post Game Thoughts The Penguins have now won nine of 11, earning points in all 11 games (9-0-2). The win tied the Penguins (84 pts) with the Philadelphia Flyers who are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference with 84 points. Philadelphia (37-22-10, 84 pts) has three games in hand on the Penguins (38-26-8, 84 pts). Pittsburgh is 4-1 against Philadelphia this season Evgeni Malkin’s five point night (2 goals, 3 assists) against the Atlanta Thrashers cooled any talk that the Art Ross Trophy is up for grabs as Malkin moved 10 points ahead of teammate Sidney Crosby. The power play which went 3-for-6 saw Evgeni Malkin have a Mario Lemieux moment with a beautiful one
Penguins/Thrashers Lineup News – Kovalchuk out
Atlanta Thrashers (30-35-6) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (37-26-8) ***Morning Skate Update*** The Penguins just concluded their morning skate. There will be no lineup changes from Sunday’s game other than Marc Andre Fleury starting in goal. It was believed Craig Adams would get back into the lineup tonight but he was the extra forward in the skate. As expected Evgeni Malkin did participate in today’s morning skate and will play tonight. The Atlanta Thrashers on a 6 game winning streak will be without forward Ilya Kovalchuk tonight who has missed the Thrashers last two games. Ilya Kovalchuk did not make the trip to Pittsburgh and head coach John Anderson indicated Kovalchuk will likely return to the lineup on Friday for the Thrashers.
NHL: Lightning owners no longer on speaking terms
Inside Pittsburgh Sports NHL Rumor Mill 3/17/09 More turmoil in Tampa Bay? Word around is that the two wacky owners of the Lightning, Oren Koules and Len Barrie, are no longer on speaking terms — Toronto Sun