November 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Even as they welcomed Sergei Gonchar back to the lineup, the Penguins could not complete a day without more concerns about their defense corps. Mark Eaton, the only Penguins defenseman to play in all 22 games, played Thursday despite suffering from back spasms. With defenseman Brooks Orpik (lower body injury) unavailable to play at Ottawa, the Penguins recalled defenseman Chris Lee from the AHL as insurance for Eaton. Lee was scratched, along with Orpik and defenseman Alex Goligoski (lower body injury). Coach Dan Bylsma said Orpik is "progressing nicely," and added that he could get "back in the lineup in the very short future.""
November 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Odds would favor just about anything happening over 522 minutes and 25 seconds of game-time hockey action. Just about everything including the Penguins scoring a power-play goal on the road. They finally did that Thursday night late in a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. Center Evgeni Malkin's score on their fifth advantage opportunity was their first on the road in a span of 522:25 dating to captain Sidney Crosby's goal at 14:31 of the second period in a win at Toronto on Oct. 10, when a 3-for-5 power play performance capped a 5-for-10 effort in two games. Malkin's fifth goal and first in six games rendered the Penguins 1 for 33 on the road since, including 1-for-5 last ..."
November 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Defenseman Sergei Gonchar will play tonight for the Penguins at Ottawa. Gonchar has been out since his left wrist was broken Oct. 20. All news is not good for the defense corps. Mark Eaton is a game-time decision because of back spasms. The Penguins have recalled Chris Lee from the AHL as a precaution. The Penguins are already playing with three AHL regulars on defense: Deryk Engelland, Ben Lovejoy and Nate Guenin."
November 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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For the second time in three months, Sidney Crosby carried a legendary sports symbol through the streets of his home province, Nova Scotia. Crosby brought the Stanley Cup home for a day in August and, Wednesday afternoon, jogged 300 yards while carrying the Olympic torch. "It's been a busy day, but it was well worth it," the Penguins captain said. "That was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was an amazing experience." Thousands lined the streets of Halifax to see Crosby carry the torch. Decked out in a white hat and in official torch bearer uniform, Crosby handed the torch to Canadian snowboarder Sarah Conrad, who also hails from Nova Scotia. Crosby endured quite the busy day, which ..."
November 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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In yet another eventful day on the Penguins' injury front, there was good and bad news. The bad news is that another defenseman, Jay McKee, will be out of action for a while. McKee has sustained a finger infection and will miss between two and four weeks. Defensemen Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski were already nursing injuries when the McKee news broke. The Penguins, though, haven't yet recalled another defenseman from Wilkes-Barre. There is a chance that either Gonchar or Orpik will play tonight in Ottawa. Gonchar has been out with a broken wrist, and Orpik has been bothered by a lower-body injury, believed to be his hip. Gonchar appears the best bet to play ..."
November 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Forward Max Talbot lost an edge on two occasions during practice Wednesday at Mellon Arena, prompting his teammates to laugh hysterically each time he fell. The life of the party is back for the Stanley Cup champions, and he won't be sitting in the press box any longer. Talbot, one of the heroes of the Stanley Cup Finals, is completely healed from summer shoulder surgery and will make his debut tonight when the Penguins play in Ottawa. "It just feels great to be back in the room," Talbot said. "I want to do everything I can to help out. My shoulder is ready." Talbot had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on July 7. At the time, he was told game action was out of the question for ..."
November 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Alex Goligoski has been one of the Penguins' best players this season, which means it was only fitting that his name was due to appear on the team's injury report. Goligoski, among the NHL's leaders in points by a defenseman, will miss 2-3 weeks with an unspecified lower body injury. "This is really starting to get crazy," Penguins defenseman Jay McKee said. "I mean, I've been around and I've seen a lot of people on one team injured. But I've never seen anything like this." The Penguins recalled Pittsburgh native Nate Guenin to replace Goligoski. With Goligoski missing, the team's power play is without a quarterback. All three of the Penguins' regular point men - Goligoski, Sergei Gonchar, ..."
November 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins' three young defensemen acquitted themselves well against one of the NHL's more imposing offenses, and the oldest guy on the team finally ended the team's power play funk. Bill Guerin sparked the Penguins with a power play goal and a fight against Anaheim's best player, Matt Cooke scored twice and the patchwork defense held down the fort in a 5-2 victory over the Ducks on Monday at Mellon Arena. "It's a great feeling to get a win, no matter who is on the ice for you," Cooke said. Cooke started the scoring just 1:31 into the contest and finished off the victory with an empty net goal. Guerin, Jordan Staal and Martin Skoula also scored for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury ..."
November 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins beleaguered power play finally scored and a host of young defenseman acquitted themselves fairly well in a 5-2 victory over Anaheim tonight at Mellon Arena. Matt Cooke scored twice, and Bill Guerin, Jordan Staal and Martin Skoula also scored for the Penguins. Also, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury ended a personal four-game losing streak. Cooke started the scoring only 1:31 into the first period. Anaheim star Ryan Getzlaf threw a blind pass into the slot, and Cooke picked off the pass and beat Jean-Sebastien Giguere to the stick side with a backhand for his second goal of the season. The Penguins struck again less than four minutes later and, for the first time in 30 attempts, finally ..."
November 16
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski is out 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury. He is having an MRI today. The Penguins will play against Anaheim tonight without defensemen Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik and Goligoski. Nate Guenin, a Pittsburgh area native, will replace Goligoski tonight. Jay McKee and Mark Eaton are the only defensemen playing tonight who were in the lineup on opening night."
November 16
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins' remarkable bad fortune with injuries may have struck again. Alex Goligoski, the team's leading scorer among defenseman, did not practice Sunday and sounds iffy for tonight's game against Anaheim at Mellon Arena. "He's been banged up," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "It was a maintenance day. Monday, we'll take a look at him again. Hopefully, he's in the same condition but we'll see. We're trying to treat him and get him better. We'll see Monday." Goligoski missed a practice on the team's recent West Coast trip because of illness but did not miss any game time. He is seventh among NHL defensemen with 14 points and is fifth in the league with a plus-11 rating. • The Penguins' ..."
November 16
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined for six points in Saturday's 6-5 overtime victory over Boston. While they were working their usual magic, the third member of the team's newly-formed top line was doing a little bit of everything. Ruslan Fedotenko had two assists and will get another look on the top unit tonight when the Penguins face Anaheim at Mellon Arena. All parties involved believe Fedotenko is a good fit with the dynamic duo of Crosby and Malkin. "I felt really good playing with those guys," Fedotenko said. "There is definitely some added responsibility when you're on the ice with them. You know you have to produce, but I think it is fun." With wingers Chris ..."
November 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist Rob Rossi
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I know what to expect from the Devils, and it doesn't bother me at all. Indeed, I'm caught up in defending the neutral-zone trap. Call me a sucker for strategy and a fan of rigid discipline when it comes to appreciating what hockey's most hated system routines offer — the best chance for teams to win on the road. There was no coincidence that the Devils' victory Thursday at Mellon Arena was their ninth straight away from home. They're already 2-0-0 in Pittsburgh, having allowed only two goals in those contests. (The Penguins were healthy for that first loss, so no excuses.) New Jersey's trap is perfectly designed for winning on the road during the regular season — though having Martin ..."
November 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Left wing Chris Kunitz didn't participate in Friday's practice, taking what Penguins coach Dan Bylsma called a "maintenance day" to rest an unspecified "nagging injury." Kunitz skated with Jordan Staal and Bill Guerin on the second line Thursday, but he was replaced by Chris Bourque in practice. The third line consisted of Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Craig Adams, and the fourth line featured Mike Rupp, Eric Godard and Max Talbot. The defensive pairings saw Jay McKee with Alex Goligoski, Martin Skoula with Ben Lovejoy and Mark Eaton with Deryk Engelland. "It could look completely different (today)," Bylsma said, "depending on the situations that could arise." • Left wing Tyler Kennedy ..."
November 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The shot ricocheted off Evgeni Malkin's right boot, annoying the star center to the point where he spun around with an angry glare. Only then did Malkin realize the shooter was Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who might just be the one person capable of keeping Malkin off the ice. And not because of his slap shot. After missing seven games to rest a strained right shoulder, Malkin practiced Friday for the second consecutive day and hopes to return to the lineup when the Penguins play host to the Boston Bruins at 7:30 tonight at Mellon Arena. Malkin said he practiced without pain or soreness in his shoulder. "I'm ready to play, and I hope that I play," Malkin said. "I feel great. ... If I play ..."
November 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins have sustained a startling number of injuries in the past three weeks, but help finally appears on the way. C Evgeni Malkin skated Thursday morning and appears on the verge of returning to the lineup. He might play Saturday against Boston at Mellon Arena. "It was my second time practicing hard and it feels good," Malkin said. "It was a good rest. I feel stronger now. I feel awesome. I won't play tonight (Thursday) but maybe next game." The Penguins had not scored a power play goal entering Thursday night's game during Malkin's absence. It has been two weeks since Penguins coach Dan Bylsma announced Malkin was out with a shoulder injury. At the time, the team said he would miss ..."
November 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins held a closed-door meeting following their game against New Jersey on Thursday at Mellon Arena. Although the meeting probably underscores the Penguins' desperation for a win, the truth is, the group in that closed-door meeting isn't really the Penguins. The depleted defending Stanley Cup champions continued to struggle and fell to the Devils, 4-1. New Jersey has now secured first place in the Atlantic Division. The Penguins have dropped four straight. Despite playing without Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Kennedy, Sergei Gonchar, Max Talbot, Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik, coach Dan Bylsma clearly expects more from his team. "Inevitably, we know we're going to deal with injuries," Bylsma ..."
November 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The hits keep on coming for the Penguins, even for the player whose primary role is to dish them out. Defenseman Brooks Orpik is the latest player to sustain an injury for the Stanley Cup champions, and his status is in doubt for tonight when the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. Already without offensive-minded defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang, the Penguins might have to adapt to playing without their most rugged blue-liner. The Penguins did not practice Wednesday. Team officials were mum on Orpik's condition despite saying that information would be released, if available. If Orpik can't play tonight, Mark Eaton, who also has a history of injury problems, will be the only ..."