Penguins player reports vs Jets: Poor d-zone play from Neal, other forwards a growing concern

Premium Post-Game Player Reports Game 4 – Friday, January 25, 2013 Penguins @ Jets Centers Sidney Crosby| 2 Goals, even rating, 3 SOG, 2 BS, 4 Hits, 1 GV, 24:07 TOI, 8 FW – 6 FL, 57.1% Crosby scored two first period goals and led the Penguins offensive attack but his two-goal night wasn’t enough for the Penguins. Crosby opened the scoring at 4:26 of the first period, taking a pass from Kunitz in the slot and with Olli Jokinen on him, snuck a snap shot inside Pavelec’s right post for the goal. On Crosby’s second goal of the night at 14:48 of the first period, he came through the neutral zone with speed after taking a pass off the

Breaking down Penguins forward depth chart & Analysis on Projected Lines

FORWARD DEPTH CHART With the lockout over, burning questions for the Penguins upfront is how the top-6 will shake up after the departure of Steve Sullivan and revamping a third line around the newly acquired Brandon Sutter, following the trade of Jordan Staal on draft day this past June. Strong indications have been that Matt Cooke will enter camp as the front runner to move up to a top-6 role in a short-term role on a line with Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby. Other internal options who could get early looks include Tyler Kennedy, Eric Tangradi and a longshot candidate being Dustin Jeffrey who if given the opportunity, could be primed for a breakout season. Despite the loss of Staal,

Pens Notes: Letang introduced by SKA; Malkin’s advantage to repeat as Art Ross Trophy winner if there’s a season

LETANG INTRODUCED (Photo courtesy of KHL) Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was introduced today by SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. Letang will begin playing for SKA immediately and is not waiting around for the lockout to end. MALKIN A GOOD BET TO REPEAT AS ART ROSS TROPHY WINNER IF THERE’S A SEASON? If the NHL ends up having a 48 game season, coaches, evaluators, ect, feel those currently playing overseas are going to have an advantage over those who are currently not playing and just training with other players.

Impact of likely 5 year contract limits would have on the Penguins negotiations with Letang and Malkin

A lost season is expected to lead to a run off of contracts, therefore, players who were entering the final year of their contracts for the 2012-2013 season would become free agents in summer 2013, like they were suppose to regardless of whether there is hockey this season. For the Penguins, unrestricted free agents to be include Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis, Craig Adams, and Ben Lovejoy. There are no significant names out of that group but the money Cooke, Dupuis and Adams would be losing from a lost season is money they will probably never get back. Cooke turns 35 in September and Dupuis coming off a career year, turns 34 in April. Adams who turns 36 in April, could

Tuesday’s Flyers – Pens Playoff Report: Bylsma singing the praises of Bryz; Post-Practice Reactions, Tidbits & GM Brian Burke talks “The Pittsburgh Model”

TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF REPORT — Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma was singing the praises of Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov today following the Penguins workout. “I know Bryz and I have experience playing with him and coaching against him, ” Bylsma said. “Bryz’s talent is something we haven’t seen a lot of, but it’s very high end. He’s an extremely talented goalie, a big body goalie with quick legs from side to side. That’s what we’re going to see with Bryzgalov. I expect him to be in there for every game. That’s what we’re looking for.” — A week or two ahead of schedule, defenseman Ben Lovejoy is a near lock to be an option to play this week and word as of this

Pens – Sabres Fallout: Sullivan a better fit with Crosby-Dupuis than Malkin-Neal?

PENS – SABRES FALLOUT The Penguins got a four point night from Sidney Crosby, produced two power play goals, played a responsible game defensively and Brent Johnson who was shaky at times, made timely saves in the third period for Pittsburgh in their 5-3 road win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. With the team in the midst of a mini-slump, Crosby led the way collecting a goal and three assists, posting his third four point game in 18 games this season. Crosby also hit the 600 point mark in his career, becoming the seventh youngest player in NHL history to reach 600 points at 24 years, 236 days. An intriguing storyline after the game wasn’t just the Penguins

Pens – Senators Pre Game Buzz: On race for No. 1 & No. 8 seed; Lovejoy in; Thiessen vs Bishop tonight

Pittsburgh Penguins (46-21-6, 98 pts) @ Ottawa Senators (37-28-10, 84 pts) No. 1 seed in Reach Tonight The New York Rangers (46-21-7, 99 pts) have picked the worst time to go through a slump, losing 4-1 last night to the Buffalo Sabres on home ice, setting up a situation tonight where they could fall out of first place for the first time in months. [instory] The Penguins one point behind the Rangers for the East lead, and three back of league-leading St. Louis for the league lead in points, could move into first place with a win tonight and Rangers loss. Following a 4-3, seven game home stand, the Rangers face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto tonight, and the

Post-Game: Pens get Big win in Dallas but suffer potential costly injuries to Letang, Sullivan

Letang, Sullivan injured in win The Pittsburgh Penguins got a big 4-3 shootout win against the Dallas Stars but it was a potential costly win. Pascal Dupuis converted in the fourth round of the shootout as the Penguins won their fourth straight game and improved to 16-4-1 in their last 21 games. Dupuis fired a shot past Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen and Marc-Andre Fleury denied Michael Ryder’s attempt to clinch the extra point for Pittsburgh who are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference with 79 points. James Neal and Chris Kunitz also scored in the shootout for Pittsburgh, while Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn scored for Dallas. Jamie Benn (18) and Steve Sullivan (12) scored first period goals and Sheldon

Game 63: Penguins @ Stars Preview

GAME 63 Pittsburgh Penguins (36-21-5, 77 pts) @ Dallas Stars (33-26-4, 70 pts) Where: 7:38 p.m. | Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas Tv: NBC SN Referees: Gord Dwyer (#19), Tim Peel (#20) Linesmen Thor Nelson (#80), Scott Cherrey (#50) LEADERS Points: PIT E. MALKIN (78), J. NEAL (61),C. KUNITZ (43) | DAL L. ERIKSSON (55), J. BENN (49), M. RIBEIRO (47) Goals: PIT E. MALKIN (37),J. NEAL (30),J. STAAL (21) | DAL M. RYDER (25), L. ERIKSSON (21), J. BENN (17) Assists: PIT E. MALKIN (41), J. NEAL (31), C. KUNITZ (26) | DAL L. ERIKSSON (34), M. RIBEIRO (33), J. BENN (32) PP Goals: PIT J. NEAL (13), E. MALKIN (10), S. SULLIVAN (5) M. RYDER (5), B.

Evgeni Malkin selected 5th overall in NHL All-Star Player Draft

Evgeni Malkin (26G-32A-58PTS) the NHL’s leading scorer was selected 5th overall by Team Chara (3rd pick) in the NHL All Star player draft. Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk went 1st overall, selected by Team Chara. Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson went 2nd overall (Team Alfredsson). Malkin’s teammate Kris Letang went 10th overall in the 5th round to Team Alfredsson, giving the Penguins two players selected among the top-10 picks. James Neal, the NHL’s second leading goal scorer with 27 goals, went to Team Alfredsson with the 28th overall pick in the 14th round.