Blogs

OTTAWA — Don’t look now, but… Barring something strange happening, the Penguins – IF they close out the Senators in Round 2 – will have an Eastern Conference showdown with the Bruins in the conference final. (Really, hasn’t it seemed like the Penguins and Bruins were on a collision course since winger Jarome Iginla chose [...]

OTTAWA — The Stanley Cup doesn’t matter that much. This was my only thought late Monday, when, after talking with one of the Trib editors, I learned of the devastation in Oklahoma. Fifty-one people died on Monday. Their lives ended, and the lives of their loved ones were forever changed. Let that simmer, as I [...]

OTTAWA — They don’t come easy. Wins in the Stanley Cup playoffs, that is – if they come at all, they’re not easily scored. Ask the Ottawa Senators, who finally broke through in this Round 2 series against the Penguins. All the Senators needed were a miracle shorthanded goal by their 40-year-old captain, Daniel Alfredsson, [...]

A quick update after optional practices for the Penguins and Senators at Consol Energy Center on Wednesday: = No injuries to report on the Penguins’ end – just bumps and bruises, coach Dan Bylsma noted. = Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said that rookie defenseman Eric Gryba (upper-body injury) has not been ruled out for Game [...]

Well, everybody in Pittsburgh is breathing easier on this Monday, right? Quite a scene that was in Uniondale, N.Y., on Saturday night; aside from the 2009 Cup Final, I’m not sure I’ve seen a Penguins squad of The Crosby Era so joyously celebrate a series win. The New Your Islanders gave the East favorites everything [...]

If, as I’ve believed since their first players’ organized workout during the NHL lockout, these Penguins are on a Redemption Song quest – as a whole, for the Stanley Cup; individually, for their previous reputations as big-game players – then it was only fitting that Tyler Kennedy played a pivotal role in their pivotal playoff [...]

A gray, and potentially rainy Thursday in our fine ‘Burgh, and what pressure the Penguins face this evening for Game 5 of a Round 1 Stanley Cup playoff series that is tied, 2-2. Some quick hits from Consol Energy Center: = EARLY, EARLY word is that Game 6, Saturday at Nassau Coliseum, is likely to [...]

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Kris Letang is my pick to win the Conn Smythe as Stanley Cup playoffs MVP. That would be, perhaps, the ultimate feather in his cap. Another one, though, could come Tuesday. The NHL will announce its Norris Trophy finalists for best defensemen during the regular season, and Letang is a strong contender [...]

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – They’re winning. That is the point, right? That is the point the Penguins are trying to make, anyway. They are ahead, 2-1, in this best-of-seven Round 1 against the New York Islanders. A year ago, after as many games, they trailed Philadelphia, 3-0. This year is different already, right? Well… Look, there [...]

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Real Deal really gave it a try Saturday. James Neal skated on his own for about 10 minutes then tried to practice with the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum. However, he did not finish the session, departing early after about 10 minutes on the ice with teammates. Neal, a right winger, was [...]