Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 20

Ottawa Citizen

"For 799 career games with the Senators, Chris Phillips has earned a reputation as one of the NHL's steadiest defenders — not flashy, but capable of shutting down a top scorer. For game No. 800, Phillips decided to have a little fun, scoring twice, his first multi-goal game in eight years, to complete a 6-2 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Senators carried a 2-1 lead into the third period of what had been a tight, defensive game, but they broke through with three goals in the third to chase Canadian Olympic candidate goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, and a final goal against backup Brent Johnson. Beating a contending teams' starts with outworking them. The Senators did that for a full ..."

Phillips Pens sweet memory

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November 20

Ottawa Sun

"Chris Phillips played his own version of Crazy Eights last night. Suiting up for the 800th game of his NHL career, the Senators defenceman led the attack in a 6-2 victory over Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Penguins in front of 17,039 at Scotiabank Place with his first two-goal performance in nearly eight years. Phillips, who scored twice on Nov. 22, 2001 against the Flames, chipped in with career goals 53 and 54 to help the Senators put together their first back-to-back victories since Oct. 17. "It feels good. When you're not expected to do that, it feels good for sure," said Phillips, who scored twice in a span of 2:03 in the third period. ..."

Back spasms don't deter Penguins' Eaton

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November 20

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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.""

Ottawa pulls away from Pens in third period

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November 20

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Penguins fall in Ottawa, 6-2

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November 20

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The early news for the Penguins was pretty good. Likely could not have been any better. After all, Sergei Gonchar and Max Talbot were back in the lineup. Mark Eaton was able to play. Then, Jordan Staal gave them a lead 69 seconds after the opening faceoff. It is what followed -- virtually all of it -- that was so disappointing. And which made Ottawa's 6-2 victory at Scotiabank Place possible. After a few strong shifts by the Penguins, the Senators began to control play, consistently getting the puck behind the Penguins' defense and getting control of it. That allowed Ottawa to dictate the pace of play, and prevented the Penguins (14-8) from getting into anything resembling a good rhythm. ..."

Gonchar set to return to Pens' lineup against Ottawa tonight

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November 19

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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."

Talbot and Gonchar return to Penguins tonight

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November 19

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins will get a couple of injured players back when they face Ottawa tonight at 7:38 at Scotiabank Place, but might lose another. Center Max Talbot, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, will make his 2009-10 debut, and defenseman Sergei Gonchar will play after missing 12 games because of a broken wrist. Defenseman Mark Eaton,who has back spasms, did not participate in the morning skate and is questionable for tonight's game."

Crosby carries Torch

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November 19

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Penguins' McKee out, but Talbot to return

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November 19

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Penguins coach Dan Bylsma could not help but notice Max Talbot when the fireball of a forward reported to the Mellon Arena locker-room complex yesterday. "He comes in the door and it could have been Game 7 against Washington [in the playoffs] the way he popped in here," Bylsma said. "I had to remind him it wasn't game day. He was excited and pumped up and ready to go." Talbot, who had surgery on his left shoulder in June, is expected to make his season debut tonight when the Penguins open a three-game road trip at Ottawa. There is also a good chance top defenseman Sergei Gonchar will return after missing 12 games because of a broken left wrist. The mood was not all good, though, not for a ..."

Sidney Crosby carries the Olympic torch

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November 19

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"To the cheers of crowds along Brunswick Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby carried the Olympic torch for about 300 meters tonight, part of a relay across Canada that eventually will include 12,000 runners before it reaches Vancouver, site of the 2010 Winter Games. Halifax is across a harbor from Crosby's hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. "It was really nice," Crosby said of the experience. "It was a lot of people. We get spoiled by the support people show here, but the torch was something pretty special." Wearing an Olympics-issue warmup suit that was white with a green and blue Vancouver Olympics logo on one side, a white tuque and big red ..."

Gonchar could return tonight, but Pens lose McKee

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November 19

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Talbot's return boosts Penguins

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November 19

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Changes made on special teams

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November 18

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"At least one head rolled because of the inability of the Steelers' kickoff team to make a tackle in the past four games, and coach Mike Tomlin even fired a zinger at his own return specialist as he tries to correct a problem that may have cost them the AFC North Division title. Tomlin called the three kickoff returns for touchdowns against his team in the past four games "head-scratchers," but it did not prevent him from lopping off the head of one special-teams player. Backup linebacker Arnold Harrison, who has two Super Bowl rings with the team and has overcome ligament surgeries to both of his knees, could not overcome the need to improve the kick coverage. He was waived, and linebacker ..."

Penguins reassign rookie Letestu

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November 17

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins today reassigned rookie forward Mark Letestu to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, meaning it's likely one of the team's injured forwards will return when the club plays Thursday at Ottawa. The strongest bet for a return is Max Talbot, the two-goal Game 7 hero from the Stanley Cup final in June."

Penguins send Ducks packing

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November 17

Orange County Register

"Minutes after speaking to his players in a closed-door meeting following a dreary 5-2 loss Monday to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle wore a look of exasperation within the bowels of ancient Mellon Arena. A winless trip that cemented their current status as the worst team in the Western Conference became the breaking point. "We're regressing right now instead of progressing," Carlyle said. "And we have to stop that. That's what I told them. I told them as a group (that) we didn't execute to an NHL level. And that we have to take the necessary steps to put in some more time and effort to improving our skills and improving our structure with our team. "And we're going to do ..."

Pens' Goligoski to miss 2-3 weeks with injury

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November 17

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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, ..."

Pens snap power-play drought in home win

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November 17

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Cooke, Penguins skate way past Ducks

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November 17

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Goligoski latest to be injured

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November 17

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Another day, another prognosis for an injured Penguins player. Defenseman Alex Goligoski will be out for an estimated two or three weeks with an undisclosed injury, coach Dan Bylsma said yesterday. Goligoski, who went into the game last night against Anaheim ranked third on the team with 14 points, left the game Saturday against Boston late in regulation favoring his upper left leg. He joins a long list of injured teammates -- defensemen Sergei Gonchar (wrist), Kris Letang (shoulder) and Brooks Orpik (undisclosed), and forwards Tyler Kennedy (groin), Chris Kunitz (undisclosed) and Max Talbot (shoulder). Bylsma hinted that the Penguins might start getting players back over the next few ..."

Depleted Penguins defeat Ducks, 5-2

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November 17

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Bill Guerin's contribution to the Penguins' 5-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks last night at Mellon Arena won't get a catchy nickname. You know, like the Gordie Howe hat trick, which consists of a goal, an assist and a fight. But it was a microcosm of the talents that have allowed him to play 1,206 games in the NHL, and figure to keep him here for a few more. "It's kind of the way I've played my whole career," he said. "I'm playing my best when I'm doing things like that." Things such as making the Penguins' first goal possible by setting an impenetrable screen that prevented Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere from seeing Matt Cooke's backhander from the slot at 1:31 of the first. Like ..."

Penguins defenseman Goligoski out 2-3 weeks with injury

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November 16

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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."

Penguins' Goligoski could miss up to three weeks

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November 16

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski is the latest player who will miss time because of injury. Goligoski, who is third on the team with 14 points, is having an MRI today, and coach Dan Bylsma said the best guess is that Goligoski will be out two to three weeks. When they play Anaheim tonight at Mellon Arena, the Penguins will have three defensemen who began the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League."

Penguins recall defenseman Nate Guenin

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November 16

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins have recalled defenseman Nate Guenin, a Hopewell High School graduate, from their farm team in Wilkes-Barre. Guenin's promotion suggests the Penguins are, at the very least, concerned that injured defenseman Alex Goligoski won't be available to play when they face Anaheim at 7:38 tonight in Mellon Arena."

Goligoski could be headed to Penguins' shelf

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November 16

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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' ..."

Penguins' Fedotenko is a boost to top line

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November 16

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Give trap its due respect

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November 15

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

columnist Rob Rossi

"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 ..."

Bruins find scoring touch in loss to Penguins

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November 15

Boston Globe

"On the verge of their most exciting win this season, set to dump the Penguins for a second time in five days after chiseling away at deficits of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, and 4-3, the Bruins saw the aging and funky Igloo transform into a house of horrors and heartbreak last night, culminating in a Pascal Dupuis goal with 1:24 gone in overtime for a 6-5 Pittsburgh victory. Dupuis's strike, his second of the night, was only the extension of an agonizing, bizarre, if not Machiavellian finish. Ready to rhumba across Three Rivers with only their ninth win this year, the Bruins instead saw ex-Bostonian Bill Guerin tie it, 5-5, with but four-tenths of a second remaining in regulation. Had it not been for ..."

Penguins stick it to visitors late, then prevail in OT

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November 15

Boston Herald

"The composite Bauer hockey stick lay in two even pieces, broken in half at the Penguins blue line. And so it was that a most unusual game was decided last night at the Igloo not by a brilliant play or a bounce of the puck, but by a broken $200 shaft of graphite. "You gotta love those graphite sticks, eh?" Bruins coach Claude Julien said. Julien most certainly did not love those sticks last night, as one shattering in the hands of Patrice Bergeron led to a tying goal by the Pittsburgh Penguins with 0:00.4 left in the third period. The Penguins won it, 6-5, at 1:24 of overtime on a goal by Pascal Dupuis, capping a wild run-and-gun affair between two teams that had been having a tough time ..."

Penguins: Dupuis' goal in overtime caps wild comeback victory

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November 15

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Pascal Dupuis has scored 100 goals in the NHL. Few, if any, have been bigger than No. 100. And none have been easier. Dupuis shoveled the puck into an empty net at 1:24 of overtime to give the Penguins a 6-5 victory against Boston at Mellon Arena last night, snapping their four-game losing streak. And while the Penguins obviously hit upon a winning formula, it's one they should not expect to replicate anytime soon. It involved not only getting two goals from Dupuis, who labors most often on a checking line, but one each from a pair of defensive defensemen, Jay McKee and Mark Eaton. Oh, and another by Bill Guerin, who didn't have any in the previous 11 games, with all of four-tenths of a ..."

Kunitz latest addition to list of injured players

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November 15

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Just as the Penguins got one player back in center Evgeni Malkin, they lost another before the game last night against Boston at Mellon Arena. Left winger Chris Kunitz has been pulled from the lineup for two weeks because of a nagging, but unspecified, injury. "Chris has been dealing with a lower-body injury for a little while now," coach Dan Bylsma said. "We're going to, at this point in time, take two weeks off for a rest period, try to get him healthy and back to where he can focus on playing the game and not worry about how healthy he is when he gets out there." Kunitz did not practice Friday or participate in the morning skate yesterday. What the Penguins are doing with him is similar ..."

Penguins beat Bruins, 6-5, in OT

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November 15

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins' offense came back to life and they broke a four-game losing streak by beating the Boston Bruins, 6-5, in overtime tonight at Mellon Arena. Pascal Dupuis scored his second goal of the game at 1:24 of overtime to win it for the Penguins. Jay McKee scored on a lofted backhand off a feed from Evgeni Malkin at 1:42 of the first period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. It was the first shift for the line of Ruslan Fedotenko-Crosby-Malkin. Malkin is playing for the first time after missing seven games because of a right shoulder strain. It was his 200th career assist. McKee, a defensive defenseman, had not scored a goal in 84 games, since Oct. 16, 2008. The Bruins tied it, 1-1, when ..."

Penguins recall Mark Letestu

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November 14

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins have recalled forward Mark Letestu from its American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre. Letestu presumably was brought up in case Evgeni Malkin, who missed the past seven games because of a strained shoulder, or left winger Chris Kunitz, who was excused from Friday's practice because of what coach Dan Bylsma called "a nagging injury," cannot play when the Penguins face Boston tonight at 7:38 at Mellon Arena."

Kunitz takes day off

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November 14

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Malkin expected back in lineup against Boston

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November 14

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Run of injuries 'bad luck part' of game

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November 14

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Take the half-dozen guys who sat out the Penguins' most recent game because of medical issues, toss in a few ushers, vendors and parking lot attendants, and you might have the makings of a playoff contender. Those injuries are the most obvious explanation for the four-game losing streak the Penguins will take into their game against Boston tonight at 7:38 at Mellon Arena, because no team could lose the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Kennedy, Max Talbot, Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik without feeling it. A lot. The Penguins, though, have tried to take those injuries in stride, shrugging them off as an unfortunate reality of the game. "Obviously, we've had injuries," defenseman ..."

Penguins counting on Malkin to be ready

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November 14

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Evgeni Malkin has not played in a game since Oct. 28, so he might need a little time to regain his rhythm when he rejoins the Penguins' lineup tonight. Malkin seems to understand that, and even has a pretty good idea of how long it will take for him to shake off whatever rust has accumulated on his game during the past few weeks. Precisely as long as it will take him to skate from the bench to wherever the first faceoff involving him is being held. "If I play [tonight], I'll play my first shift and be 100 percent," Malkin said. "I'm ready." The Penguins are counting on it. They assigned forward Chris Conner to their farm team in Wilkes-Barre yesterday, meaning that Malkin is part of a ..."

Devs win 9th straight away from home

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November 13

New York Post

"Others are coming down with swine flu. The Devils are finally catching record fever. They'll have to wait until after they play host to the Caps tomorrow, but on Monday in Philadelphia, the Jersey Juggernaut can tie the NHL's longest-ever perfect road start to a season. Martin Brodeur wants that 10-0 road start record held by the 2006 Sabres, and says his teammates should want it, too. "It's something that's pretty cool," Brodeur said. "Everybody has to realize there are only so many opportunities to write history. "We have to embrace it. We can't be afraid of it. And we're doing a lot of good things, so we don't have to change anything." The Devils ran their perfect road start to 9-0 ..."

History in the Atlantic?

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November 13

Camden Courier-Post

"Could history be in the making in the Atlantic Division? Since the NHL realigned its divisional format in 1998, no division has placed all five teams in the playoffs. It could happen this season. Entering Thursday night's action, the Penguins, Rangers, Devils and Flyers all held playoff positions, while the Islanders were in a three-way tie for the eighth in the conference. "It doesn't surprise me," said Flyers center Blair Betts, who spent the previous four seasons with the Rangers. "The Rangers, the Flyers, the Penguins and the Devils have had pretty strong teams over the past few years and the Islanders are a young, gritty team with a lot of hard workers, so I kind of expected that. In ..."

Malkin skates, feels good

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November 13

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Pens snap drought, still skidding

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November 13

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Penguins break schneid, at least

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November 13

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"If progress is incremental, the Penguins surely made some during their 4-1 loss to New Jersey at Mellon Arena last night. Hey, they actually generated a goal and took a lead. That might not seem like much, but for a team that had been shut out in its previous two games, it was a step forward, albeit a tiny one But not nearly enough to prevent the Penguins (12-7) from losing for the fourth game in a row and for the fifth time in the past six games. The Devils are surging in the opposite direction, with seven consecutive victories. They are 9-0 on the road and have earned two of those victories here. And they're doing it with textbook Jacques Lemaire hockey: patience, stingy defense, strong ..."

Penguins lose 4th game in a row

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November 13

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins lost their fourth game in a row, 4-1, to the New Jersey Devils tonight at Mellon Arena. The Penguins have scored one goal over their past three games, three goalsl during their losing streak. New Jersey is 9-0 on the road and has won seven in a row overall. The Penguins took a 1-0 lead at 11:32 of the first period when Ruslan Fedotenko stuffed the puck past New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur from a scramble in the crease. Sidney Crosby started the play with a backhand shot from the bottom of the left circle. Crosby's assist broke his career-worst five-game point drought. The goal also halted the Penguins' team drought at 160:41, short of their team record of 170:27. The ..."

Orpik injury is not as bad as first feared

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November 13

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Judging from the injury news coming from the Penguins yesterday, Thanksgiving week might have extra meaning this year. There is a good chance most of their six injured regulars will be back around that holiday if not before. Defenseman Brooks Orpik, the most recently injured player, is expected to be out for about two weeks with an unspecified lower-body injury, and that's better than initially feared, coach Dan Bylsma said. Orpik missed his first game last night when New Jersey visited Mellon Arena. He was hurt Tuesday in the first period at Boston but said it wasn't directly related to the hit into the boards he absorbed from Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart just before leaving the game. ..."

Penguins recall defenseman Lovejoy

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November 12

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins have recalled defenseman Ben Lovejoy from their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate in the American Hockey League. Lovejoy, 25, has three points on two goals and an assist with a plus-2 rating in seven games for the Baby Penguins. Last season, Lovejoy led the AHL with a plus-42 rating and totaled 31 points on seven goals and 24 assists."

Devils roll again, Penguins up next

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November 12

New York Post

"The Jersey Juggernaut hunts big game tonight. Plays one, too. These shocking Devils have so much on the line, so early in this season, when they visit the Penguins tonight. The Devils and Penguins share the Atlantic Division lead, with New Jersey holding two games in hand. But perhaps more notably, the Devils will try to move within one game of the NHL record longest perfect road start, as they seek to go 9-0 on the road this year. "We're surprised, sure," coach Jacques Lemaire said after the Devils won their sixth straight overall with a 3-1 triumph over the Ducks in Newark last night. "If they play their best, the points will be there -- except if your team's not good. "But I think this ..."

Pens' Orpik's playing status still uncertain

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November 12

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"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 ..."

Engelland fills hole on Penguins' defense

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November 12

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Things could have gone differently the past week for defenseman Deryk Engelland. A lot differently. What he will remember most, no doubt, will be getting word Thursday night that he was being promoted from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the Penguins and then making his NHL debut Monday in a game at Boston. "It's been a long road, but it's definitely worth the wait. It's a dream come true to make it to this level. You've been waiting to do it since you were a little kid," said Engelland, who, at 27, is no kid but suddenly finds himself in a critical role going into a home game against New Jersey because of a rash of injuries to Penguins defensemen. Engelland is thankful he will not remember these ..."

Penguins worth $222 million according to Forbes

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November 12

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The Penguins are worth $222 million, making them the 11th most valuable franchise in the NHL, according to a study released this evening by Forbes.com. Toronto, at $470 million, was judged to be the league's most valuable franchise while Phoenix, at $138 million, ranked last among the 30 clubs. The other teams ahead of the Penguins were the New York Rangers ($416 million), Montreal ($339 million), Detroit ($337 million), Philadelphia ($273 million), Boston ($271 million), Chicago ($258 million), Dallas ($246 million), Vancouver ($258 million) and New Jersey ($223 million)."

Penguins fall after brutal trip

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November 11

Boston Globe

"They are banged up, to be sure, not unlike the Bruins. The potent Pittsburgh Penguins aren't at full strength, and that hasn't helped their cause lately. However, they still have plenty of offensive talent up front. Last night, against the Bruins at TD Garden, the Penguins displayed more of a power outage than any semblance of a scoring threat in Boston's 3-0 victory. The Penguins have lost three in a row and four of five. They have been shut out three times this season, including their last two games. Among the missing are defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang and forwards Evgeni Malkin, Max Talbot, and Tyler Kennedy."

Thomas and Bruins ice Penguins to post back-to-back wins for the first time

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November 11

Boston Globe

"In the second period, Matt Hunwick whirled around the Pittsburgh net, tucked a backhander over the glove of Marc-Andre Fleury and under the crossbar, and saw the puck hit the back of the net. But as Hunwick spotted the red light and raised his arms to celebrate, he heard an interrupted blare of the goal horn. He saw several Penguins rushing past him, far too fast, he thought, to be going off the ice for a line change. That's when he saw referee Bill McCreary waving his arms to indicate no goal."

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