Penguins/NHL
- The Pittsburgh Penguins went into the All-Star break Thursday night in making a mockery of the Minnesota Wild with a 6-3 win on 80’s night.
With just over two months left in the regular season, here come the Penguins who are 8-3 in January, back to playing a high-end offensive brand of hockey, a relentless puck pursuit game and that Sidney Crosby guy is creeping up the NHL Points leaderboard.
Crosby who had 35 points in his first 40 games of the season, now has 20 points in 11 games this month and has been an assist machine with 17 helpers during that span. Crosby’s goal totals are down this season but he’s on pace to smash his assist totals from the past couple seasons (49 assists in 2015-2016, 45 assists in 2016-2017). Crosby is eighth in the NHL with 38 assists.
And what continues to go unnoticed is that Phil Kessel is third in the NHL in points and on pace for 93 points. Kessel’s career high is 47 assists, he already has 37 assists on the season.
NHL Points Leaders
1. Nikita Kucherov – 63 Pts
2. Nathan MacKinnon – 60 Pts
3. Phil Kessel – 58 Pts
4. Steven Stamkos – 58 Pts
5. John Tavares – 57 Pts
6. Claude Giroux – 57 Pts
7. Johnny Gaudreau – 56 Pts
8. Jakub Voracek – 56 Pts
9. Sidney Crosby – 55 Pts
2. The emergence of Casey DeSmith has led to a best-case scenario for the Penguins moving forward where they can let Tristan Jarry still get games in Wilkes Barre and possibly be the guy for Wilkes Barre in the playoffs, an opportunity he missed last season due to the Murray injury.
“Matt Murray’s our No. 1 guy. That is what it is,” Sullivan said on Thursday.
The biggest priority, per a team source, for the Penguins the rest of the way is getting Murray back to form and the coaching staff believes a heavy work-load of games the next two months is what needs to happen.
“The great thing about our goaltending situation right now is we’ve got three very capable guys,” Sullivan said. “I would envision all of these guys getting some time. If we need to move Casey down or whatever it may be, we can do that as well. We have a lot of flexibility with those guys as our back-up goaltenders. We’re just trying to make sure we make the best decisions both for the hockey team and for the individuals so that we can continue to help them grow and develop their games.”
3. Ian Cole actually got to play Thursday night by default as Matt Hunwick suffered a stinger in practice and was held out.
Cole played well and the third pairing of Cole-Oleksiak was much more efficient at 72% in possession and on the ice for just 4 scoring chances against.
“We certainly thought ‘Colesy’ had a really strong game,” Sullivan said afterwards.
Cole’s strong game vs the Wild isn’t likely going to put Matt Hunwick’s (when healthy) spot in the lineup on thin-ice.
Recently the Penguins coaching staff during organizational discussions have continued to make it known to management that Hunwick is going to play over Cole and that has led to Jim Rutherford reaching the point over the last 10-14 days where he’s looking to do right for Cole and find him a new home with Cole being in a contract, two NHL sources confirm.
Where the asking price last month was the Penguins seeking an NHL player in return, preferably a center, Pittsburgh is now said to be willing to move Cole for a To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! have been on the hunt for a To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
4. Daniel Sprong To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
5. Rick Nash and his camp already have their 12-team trade list prepared for when the Rangers officially ask for it, a request that could come as soon as next week.
The Penguins a source confirms will To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
That Kucherov deke was so dirty. Damn
Kucherov is very good at hockey, TB will be scary come playoff time
Kunitz may just get that 5th ring after all
It’s funny to watch sam systemically thumbs down everything he don’t agree with, even when they are verifiable facts, with his army of accounts. You are what is wrong with the planet today sammich, ignorance personified lol
When is the All Star Game in Quebec? Anyone? Anyone?
No All Star Game, but Rendovs ‘87 took its place that year
Awesome event in Tampa. Not even Kid Rock could ruin it.
Meanwhile, down the road, Tomlin got outcoached in the Pro Bowl.
Diego, you’re surprised?
Nope. Everyone opts to kick short field goals in the pro bowl
But you ruined it with your presence you fat slob
If only fleury was in net for metro and. Not holtby
Good performance by kid rock never disappoints live. Good song from his latest album but my favourite song from the album stand the pain and mountain top tenesse
Kid Rock fucken sucks all kinds of balls, not unlike your mom!
Still better then your Justin Bieber and drake
HA, that bar is set frighteningly low… what I don’t understand is how you are championing a wanna be southern rap/rock/country artists while shitting all over two Canadians…
WANNABE AMERICAN, FAKE CANADIAN blah, blah. It’s interesting how you go pro-US for their president and Kid fucken Rock but can’t give them any credit for the countries ability to play hockey lol.
He was appealing to middle school kids like 15 years ago. Then he started doing country because no one cared about him anymore. Now gee just sells out and does whatever, because he’s a piece of white trash.
He started doing rap crap***
I still remember him “yodelling in the valley” as he did guest spots on early ICP records. Probably one of the few white rappers using N-Bombs on his records lol. Suddenly he make it big when Rap-rock was hot riding the coat-tails of Korn and even Eminem who had just blown up. Then when Rap-Rock started to get old he moved on to country rock? Guys epitomizes what it means to sell out lol. I mean I aint mad at him for getting money but when you claim you are as real as the next but change up to whatever… Read more »
How do you like everything that’s awful?
Really they had to stop the game to give a jersey to first black player. Really ?
You dumbfuck… Willie Oree asshoIe! It’s a milestone year.
From Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada… WANNABE AMERICAN, FAKE CANADIAN blah, blah
I think fat npl is outside protesting #BlackLivesMatter. And the fact kid rock will be singing In a democrat area
If Atlantic is out first round I wonder how many bandwagon fans would leave the arena if metro is out tbj promises he will turn off his TV
Good thing they added Letang to the roster…
Toews is the perfect 3rd line center for the Pens. Too bad Hawks signed him to that ridiculous salary.
Same thinks 25 points is worth 7.8 million. Is anyone surprised?
Get lost box score
Stick to the all Star game maybe you might spot a player that you can drool on about
We have a guy makin less than half that with similar results that sammich hates too
Crosby scored assisted by ovi quick tbj start drooling
Caphit notwithstanding, who would you rather have, Nash or Ovechkin?
I’m not even sure what that is supposed to mean.
Not a lot of american players at the all Star games. They are probably home collecting overpaid paychecks
You’re pretty proud of the fact that the asked Letang and embarrassed all involved over Phil Kessel who was 1000x more deserving aren’t you…
Letang looked like shit in the skills comp too.
“Matt Murray’s our No. 1 guy. That is what it is,” Sullivan said on Thursday.
Sign Jagr!!
No… unless it’s a symbolic one day then no
Another brilliant statement from Simply Dusty. He roots for players not teams.
An acquisition of Nash would need to be a perfect storm of events. He’s expensive even if the Rags eat salary! He’s on pace for his 3rd straight sub 40 point season, even at 3.8 per that’s not quite what I would care to see for a slowing, ex star… add to that he’s a UFA and could be a rental. NY is probably looking for a decent package for a perceived value that has not been present in the player nearly 3 full seasons. On the flip side… maybe he has a career resurgence as a Penguin. He is… Read more »
You cock he won’t cost 3.8. Season halfway done
It’s the prorated equivalent of a 3.8 million dollar guy if the Rags were to eat 50%… if they did not? Which is more likely… it would be 2.9 million, for a guy that has struggled so bad that he’s “barley” a 30 point guy anymore lol.
So you’re right, we’d save on the cost of an additional 4th liner to bring in a high risk winger when the needs are a centre and someone to offset the disaster of a season Letang is having… how does it feel to still be fucken stupid?
Guentzel – 15 goals. Toews – 14 goals.
How is parise and staal doing
They don’t get paid 10.5. And no one cares anyway.
How did fleury do . Yoda what’s your take on it ?
Performance in all-star games is always telling.
What was that thing on his hand he was using to stop the puck?
Great to see him out there, great to see him having a good time but it was a skills competition dickbag… it’s fucken meaningless
All Stars are missing power play specialist event when chubby and Russian can come in handy and get votes
You mean 3rd in the league in scoring Phil Kessel?
33, 28, 26… PP points… who is who sammich? I’ll give you a hint, none are that samhole Kris Letang!
News alert people in Tampax people are warned to rush them selves home after the all Star apparently there is a fat slob begging for money in return for a sloppy bj
Is this the same Nash same suggested? Funny how when I throw names organization somewhat is interested in them while you droolers throw names organization not even close to be interested
How does us being on his list of teams make us “interested”? He said GMJR tried to acquire him…..in 2012. Six years ago! Just another example of you wanting an overpaid, over the hill Canadian. Jesus, you somehow get dumber with every post.
Yeah when rangers retain 50% his salary he well cost 1 to 1.7m. Now go make some donuts fatso
He would still be making almost 4 if they ate half his salary, dumba$$. If he were as good as you say, they wouldn’t have to eat anything. Way to kill your own point.
Is that the case for chubby leafs eating his salary until end of his chubby contract
The leafs were a go nowhere rebuild team… NY is still in the playoff hunt! No where close to the same retard
Ya I’m dying to add perennial 30 point man Rick Nash…
NHL Skills entertainment. Flo Rida playing 5-year old song. …NHL needs so much help.
I don’t understand it. It’s hard to botch a league as bad as they do. Who the frig would sign off on that? And don’t even get me started on Kid Rock.
Kid Rock would kick your asss
You like kid rock? Wow… lol
Actually, I don’t like kid rock’s music. Although, I’d much rather listen to that than any of the garbage rap out these days.
Won’t get much of an argument there, mainstream “hip hop” less a few names is garbage. I can’t stand the Drake, the mumble shit is terrible… Kid Rock, at least to me, is a bit of a joke. He was an underground Detroit emcee in an era that Shady was up ad coming and ICP and Esham were making a name for themselves but he blew up making hard “rap/rock” then went country to sell records.
Tip of the hat to him for getting his money but his artistic integrity is in question.
Kid rock is raw talent he can pull it off any type music he plays
to each their own. I think he’s fake, personally but he must have a fan base to have stayed around this long.
You being a fan of kid rock is probably the least surprising thing I’ve read that you’ve posted the entire time you’ve been here lol
Got to love kid rock. Republican singing in a democrat area
Of course you love kid rock. He appeals to teenagers. He also hasn’t been relevant in almost two decades, much like the players you like.
Pens need a goalie and a 6-7 dman
Nash would be nice, to me it doesn’t address their biggest need of a solid 3C and I do not like the cost either
Negative – hahaha- watch and understand the games moron
Nash doesn’t really fit our style of play and he’s over the hill. He’s also been very inconsistent in recent history. Kane has more speed, more consistent production and is in the prime of his career. He’s an a$$hole, but people said the same of Kessel when he came. The focus should be on a center or dman anyway.
We’re not getting Nash. D and Sam are the same person.
#insultposting