March 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Somehow, Sidney Crosby survived a scary-looking outward bend of his right leg. Still, the Penguins left St. Pete Times Forum on Sunday night without complete confidence -- though, hardly pessimism -- about the future availability of Crosby's fellow superstar center, Evgeni Malkin. They also locked down the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period to snag a 2-1 victory, the Penguins' first on a stretch of five straight road games. Increasing their Atlantic Division lead on the New Jersey Devils to four points was hardly the talking point after this win for the Penguins (41-23-5, 87 points). Malkin did not return in the third period after he was hit in the lower body with a shot off the stick ..."
March 1
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Panthers defenseman Jordan Leopold was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday for a second-round pick in this year's draft. As of Monday morning, the deal was pending league approval. Teams were allowed to start making deals again at midnight (Sunday into Monday) when the Olympic break roster freeze was lifted. It was expected the veteran Leopold, 29, would be moved by Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline since he's set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season."
February 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Chris Kunitz remained unavailable in the Penguins' 5-3 loss at Montreal Saturday, but his return appears set for today. Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said following Saturday's game that Kunitz will likely play today in Washington. The winger hasn't played since Jan. 3 in Florida. He had surgery to fix an abdominal injury and has been practicing with the team for more than a week. There had been a school of thought that the Penguins would rest Kunitz until the Olympic break, giving him an additional three weeks to rest, but he stated Tuesday that he intended on playing at some point this weekend."
January 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins coach Dan Bylsma didn't come out and say it, but his tone indicated that goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is a good bet to play this afternoon in Philadelphia. Fleury, out of action since breaking a finger Jan. 14 in Edmonton, faced some shots during practice Saturday at Mellon Arena and looked comfortable. "He took a lot of shots yesterday and a full practice today," Bylsma said. "So I would say he's ready to start.""
January 21
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Right wing Pascal Dupuis could play Thursday night for the Penguins in a playoff rematch with the Washington Capitals at Mellon arena, coach Dan Bylsma said. "He went through some tests (Wednesday), and we'll do some tests (today) to see where he's at," Bylsma said of Dupuis, who sported a swollen right eye yesterday in the Penguins' dressing room. He was checked from behind into the boards by New York Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton late in the third period of a Penguins' win Tuesday night. Sutton, who was issued a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding after the play, was suspended by the NHL yesterday afternoon for two games without pay."
January 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (fractured left ring finger) did not play Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place, and he may not be available until late this week. Fleury participated in the Penguins' morning practice but said he "could not do a whole lot" with his glove hand. He was injured Thursday in a win at Edmonton when a puck caught his glove awkwardly during a second-period save. Goalie John Curry made his third career start for the Penguins against the Canucks, who started two-time Vezina Trophy runner-up Roberto Luongo. Curry was recalled from the AHL on Monday because of an undisclosed injury to Penguins backup goalie Brent Johnson, who was eligible to play ..."
January 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The next couple of weeks could produce movement regarding talks between the Penguins and defenseman Sergei Gonchar, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Gonchar's agent, JP Barry, said Thursday he plans to speak with his client at the conclusion of the Penguins' five-game road trip, which ends Saturday at Vancouver, before meeting with Penguins general manager Ray Shero. "We haven't really agreed on terms or dollar aspect, but the time for that is soon," Barry said, adding that he wants to discuss numbers with Shero as early as next week for the first time since late September. Barry described dialogue with the Penguins as "comfortable." Talks between the parties have been ..."
December 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Bob Hawkins, who has known Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury since his junior-hockey days, recently shared some details with me that I thought readers would like to know: "Whatever it is, he'll be late for everything," Hawkins said of Fleury. "I often wonder: How does he move so fast in net when he can't get anywhere on time?" Speaking of late, two days after Christmas, I choose to offer these discarded gems from my dealings with the Penguins in 2009: » Vice president of communications Tom McMillan declaring that Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock will "have to pay $10 for half a sandwich" when the Blue Jackets next play in Pittsburgh after McMillan was charged in October for a pregame meal at ..."
December 25
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Imagine Consol Energy Center rocking on a future Friday night in late June because of a great win that has nothing to do with the Penguins. A blasphemous suggestion -- unless, of course, that Friday night marks Round 1 of an NHL Entry Draft and that great win is for Pittsburgh-area hockey because an NHL team has selected a local boy. The dream-big scenario is not so far-fetched. The league has not announced a destination for the 2011 draft, the Penguins have applied to host a future draft weekend, and a local prospect "certainly will be" a first-round pick that year. "Unless something goes majorly wrong," said Kyle Woodlief, head of scouting for independent service Red Line Report, ..."
December 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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There is no proof that the NHL schedule was designed to benefit the Stanley Cup champions, but the Penguins have been playing advantageous hands the past few weeks. A game Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena marked the fourth of eight previous contests in which a rested Penguins squad faced an opponent that played the previous night. In fact, according to FSN Pittsburgh, seven of the Penguins' past 12 games have come against opponents that either played the previous night or traveled a great distance the day before. The Penguins were 5-0-1 in those contests. "It's just the nature of this year's schedule," coach Dan Bylsma said. The Penguins opened November with eight of ..."
December 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Coach Dan Bylsma said he is "preparing like (winger Bill Guerin) is playing" for the Penguins tonight against the Flyers at Philadelphia. Guerin did not practice Wednesday at Southpointe, but he walked without a noticeable limp after practice. His right skate boot was hit by a puck late in the third period of a win against the Flyers on Tuesday night, and Guerin did not finish the game. » Forward Max Talbot's status for tonight will depend on Guerin's availability, as Bylsma indicated that winger Eric Godard would dress against the Flyers. Godard is the club's top fighter, and many Penguins players said they expect a rough and physical game from the Flyers, who are on a 3-11-0 stretch and ..."
December 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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All looks well for the Penguins (22-10-1, 45 points), who are five points better through 33 games than during the past two seasons that ended in the Stanley Cup Final. But looks may be deceiving, and head coach Dan Bylsma and his staff must address a few growing concerns if the Penguins are to convert this strong start into the Eastern Conference's best record and home-ice advantage until the Final. Fight the power Perhaps everybody is too negative regarding the Penguins' second-worst power play. They are clicking at 14.3 percent (8 for 56) over the past 14 games, which is almost one percentage point better than their 13.6 percent overall mark. Three of those eight power-play goals were ..."
December 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Coach Dan Bylsma said Friday that left wing Chris Kunitz "is getting close" to returning from a lower-body injury that has cost him 13 straight games. Kunitz has not played since Nov. 12. His return will present Bylsma with an interesting decision on which forward to scratch. "It's a luxury I've been looking forward to having for a while," he said of having available, for the first time, all 13 of his expected regular forwards, which he would upon Kunitz's return."
December 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Defenseman Alex Goligoski did not travel with the Penguins to New York for their game Monday night against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Goligoski recorded two assists and played 21 minutes and 16 seconds in a home win against the Rangers on Saturday night. He had missed six straight games with a lower-body injury. The Penguins did not disclose if he will play Thursday against Colorado at home. They will likely treat his return cautiously after winger Tyler Kennedy missed 11 straight games last month after returning from a three-game absence because of a lower-body injury."
November 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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General manager Ray Shero expressed a considerable degree of satisfaction Saturday night that the Penguins went 5-3 over a stretch when at least two AHL defensemen were in the lineup, and they split two games over that span when three had to play. Stability was all the Penguins realistically could hope for during a stretch from Oct. 20-Nov. 16 when five regular defensemen were lost because of injuries. Four have returned to the lineup, and Jay McKee could play tonight at the New York Rangers after missing six straight games. An infected finger on his right hand that required at overnight stay at the hospital Nov. 17 for treatment with antibiotics and draining of fluid has healed ..."
November 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Winger Matt Cooke said Saturday night he was "surprised" officials penalized him for interference after a hit on New York Rangers forward Artem Anisimov late in the Penguins' 8-3 win at Mellon Arena. Anisimov left the game after that hit and did not return. "They guy was coming across the middle, and I finished my check," Cooke said after the game — the last he will play until Saturday against Chicago, after the NHL suspended him for two games Sunday night. The league ruled Cooke deliberately checked Anisimov in the head area. Since Cooke was suspended for two games in January, he is considered a repeat offender under terms of the collective bargaining agreement. He will forfeit around ..."
November 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Neither winger Tyler Kennedy (lower-body injury) nor defenseman Kris Letang (bruised right shoulder) will play today at the New York Islanders, coach Dan Bylsma said Thursday after practice. "Their progress has been very promising the past few days," he said. "They haven't had a lot of practice time with the team. In both cases, I think they need that." Center Evgeni Malkin did not practice, but he is expected to play today, Bylsma said. Malkin was given a "maintenance day," which in Penguins' lingo indicates either rest or treatment for a player. Malkin has scored two goals and recorded eight points in six games after missing seven straight because of a strained right shoulder. - The ..."
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 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 ..."
October 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar said Wednesday he is finally over a nasty cold that afflicted him from the final week of training camp through the opening weeks of the regular season. "Mostly it just kept me tired all the time," he said. Gonchar added "it only makes sense" that his agent, JP Barry, and the Penguins have agreed to put off negotiations on a contract extension until after Jan. 1, when GM Ray Shero will have a better grasp on the 2010-11 salary cap. Gonchar, 35, is in the final season of a five-year deal at a $5 million annual cap hit. He reiterated his desire to finish his NHL career with the Penguins • Hurricanes goaltending coach Tom Barrasso is slated to become the ..."