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Chris Kunitz News & Rumors

Kunitz shootout goal lifts Penguins to victory over Blues
January 25
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"James Neal isn't interested in All-Star Games. He's interested in scoring goals and winning games. Just ask him. Neal, who still hasn't been named to the NHL All-Star Game, scored his 27th goal of the season, and Chris Kunitz scored the game-winner in a shootout to ignite the Penguins' 3-2 victory in St. Louis on Tuesday. Philadelphia's Scott Hartnell was named to the NHL All-Star Game on yesterday morning. "I don't care," Neal said. "That's old news. I'm not worried about the All-Star Game. We've got a good little roll going right now. We're just worried about winning games right now.""
Kunitz, Malkin lead Penguins to shootout victory against the Blues
January 25
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"There would be no rollover game to launch them into the All-Star break. The Penguins knew that. Their 3-2 shootout win Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center was as tough a game as they have played, primarily because the Blues have evolved into one of the NHL's best teams in the span of a less than three months. "They're a physical team and they just keep coming," said winger Chris Kunitz, who celebrated his 500th NHL game by scoring the deciding goal in the shootout."
Veteran forward Kunitz is content in his role with Penguins
January 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Ask Evgeni Malkin or James Neal, and they'll say without hesitation that teammate Chris Kunitz is always getting in the way. For instance, when Malkin was making a quick pass and Neal was scoring the game-tying goal Sunday, Kunitz was standing in the way. And earlier that game, when Kris Letang was blasting a 60-foot goal from the blue line, Kunitz was there in the way. Both times the Penguins forward was skating in front of Washington's net, blocking the view of Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth. Kunitz didn't earn an assist on either goal, but neither happened without his subtle help. Or not-so-subtle help, if you were Neuvirth trying to see around him."
Canadiens' Subban fined for trip of Kunitz
January 23
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The NHL fined Montreal defenseman PK Subban $2,500 for a "dangerous trip" of Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz during Friday's game at Consol Energy Center. Subban used his left foot to kick out Kunitz's skates from behind, causing him to fall feet-first into the boards behind Montreal's net. Kunitz was not injured. "The league reviewed the play, as they do all of them," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said, "and gave some discipline in the form of a fine. I think they saw a slewfoot.""
Canadiens' Subban fined for trip of Kunitz
January 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The NHL fined Montreal defenseman PK Subban $2,500 for a "dangerous trip" of Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz during Friday's game at Consol Energy Center. Subban used his left foot to kick out Kunitz's skates from behind, causing him to fall feet-first into the boards behind Montreal's net. Kunitz was not injured. "The league reviewed the play, as they do all of them," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said, "and gave some discipline in the form of a fine. I think they saw a slewfoot." This is the second straight game that has featured a slewfoot controversy. The night before in New York, Rangers center Brad Richards accused Penguins left wing Matt Cooke of a slewfoot. This accusation irritated"
Kunitz goal pushes Penguins past Capitals
December 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Chris Kunitz scored a goal early in the third period to lead the Penguins to a 2-1 victory against Washington at the Verizon Center tonight. The victory was the Penguins' first in regulation against the Capitals during the regular season since March 9, 2008 and raised their record to 15-7-4. Penguins center Sidney Crosby failed to record a point in Washington for the first time in 12 career appearances, while Capitals winger Mike Knuble had a 13-game scoring streak against the Penguins snapped. Kunitz scored the game-winner at 2:36 of the third, when he fought past Washington defenseman John Erskine and beat goalie Tomas Vokoun from above the right hash mark for his ninth of the season."
Kings Ethan Moreau fined for boarding Kunitz
November 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Los Angeles Kings forward Ethan Moreau was fined $2,500 late Sunday for boarding Chris Kunitz in the first period of the Penguins` win Saturday. The incident was reviewed Sunday, and Moreau was fined the maximum amount allowed under the collective bargaining agreement because he was in violation of Rule 41.1 (boarding)."
Kunitz rallies Penguins to SO win
November 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"There's a reason certain players have a go-to move in a shootout situation. Just ask Chris Kunitz. The Penguins winger could box and sell his approach -- make some moves, pull the goaltender out of position and slip the puck under him. He used it Saturday night on Jonathan Quick and won the game, 3-2, at Staples Center. "You try to make a move, see if he flinches, opens up his legs. You find a spot, and it went through," said Kunitz, who was the eighth shooter in the shootout."
Penguins wingers picking up scoring slack
November 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"When the NHL trade deadline rolls around in about four months, the annual demand for Penguins general manager Ray Shero to acquire a scoring winger will erupt. But this time, such a move might be unnecessary. Despite not having the prodigious playmaking skills of centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for much of the season's first month, the Penguins are receiving scoring from, of all places, their wingers. One of the wingers off to a strong start realizes that fans will still expect the Penguins to enhance their team with a "scoring winger" at some point during the season. "They'll say that every year," right wing Pascal Dupuis said. "We're used to that. I can only bring what I can"
Penguins' Kunitz gets his points across
October 20
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Understand that Tony Granato has no special psychic powers. It was not a gift for seeing into the future that allowed him to predict a few days ago that Chris Kunitz was on the cusp of ending his season-long goal-scoring drought. Instead, it was a simple recognition of history, a grasp of what Kunitz has done in the past and how that shaped what the Penguins could expect from him in games to come. "He's so rock-solid," Granato said. "He's done a great job on the [power play] in front of the net -- he's created some goals for us on the power play, just by his presence in front of the net -- so he'll get it going."
Kunitz receives 2-year contract extension
October 14
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Left winger Chris Kunitz could have waited until next summer to test the free-agent market, maybe earn himself a raise. Instead, he signed a two-year extension with the Penguins after negotiations that lasted only about two weeks. "We like it here," Kunitz said Thursday. "We like the coaching staff. We like the players. "When you're comfortable as a hockey player, it makes it a lot easier to do your job." His extension runs through 2013-14 and carries a salary cap hit of $3.75 million per season -- the same hit he has now."
Penguins sign Kunitz to extension
October 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins announced this morning that they have signed left winger Chris Kunitz to a two-year contract extension. The deal runs through the 2013-14 season and is worth $3.725 million a season. Kunitz, 32, has been a top-line winger for the team -- often with Sidney Crosby -- with a blend of offense and physical play. He was acquired from Anaheim in a February 2009 trade and was a member of the Penguins Stanley Cup team that season."
Steve Downie, Chris Kunitz suspended one game for seperate hits
April 20
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Lightning right wing Steve Downie, without hesitation Tuesday, answered every question concerning his one-game league suspension. But his head lowered slightly — and his voice, too — when asked about missing Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal tonight against the Penguins at the St. Pete Times Forum. "I felt like I've let the team down," he said. "It's going to be tough to swallow." Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz, also suspended for one game, felt the same. "Very disappointed," he said. "You don't ever want to put your team in a bad situation by playing short a man." Both were suspended for actions in the Penguins' 3-2 victory in Monday's Game 3. Downie left his feet to clobber"
Lightning's Steve Downie, Penguins' Chris Kunitz suspended for one game
April 19
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Steve Downie and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz were suspended one game each for separate incidents in Pittsburgh's 3-2 victory Monday in Game 3 of the East quarterfinal. Both will sit out Wednesday's Game 4. Downie left his feet to clobber Ben Lovejoy in the chest/shoulder area. Downie would have been called for at least charging, but the Penguins scored on the delayed penalty. Kunitz hit Simon Gagne with a blind-side elbow and was given two minutes, but the blow clearly violated Rule 48, which prohibits blind-side and lateral blows to the head. "I was coming though the middle and getting ready to finish a check like I usually do, and the puck"
Kunitz, Downie each suspended one game
April 19
TSN.ca
 
"Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Downie and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz were each handed one-game suspensions by the NHL on Tuesday after separate incidents that took place during Game 3 of their series on Monday night. Downie got the single-game ban for leaving his feet during a check on Pittsburgh forward Ben Lovejoy at the end boards. Prior to the hit, Lovejoy was able to advance the puck down the ice leading to an early goal for Pittsburgh. The goal negated the penalty Downie was set to receive."
Pens' Kunitz, Lightning's Downie face hearing over hits
April 19
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Chris Kunitz of the Penguins and Tampa Bay winger Steve Downie will have hearings with the NHL today because of hits they threw during the Penguins' 3-2 victory Monday night against the Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum. Seconds before Max Talbot scored the goal that put the Penguins in front, 1-0, at 5:46 of the opening period, Downie launched himself into defenseman Ben Lovejoy behind the Penguins net. He was was going to be sent off for that hit, but Talbot's goal got the penalty waved off."
Core players rest up for playoffs
April 11
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Jordan Staal spent the day in street clothes. So did Chris Kunitz. James Neal and Paul Martin, too. Marc-Andre Fleury got the afternoon off, as well. Didn't matter. With nothing except a few statistics and personal achievements at stake in the Penguins' regular-season finale -- a 5-2 victory against Atlanta Sunday at Philips Arena -- coach Dan Bylsma took advantage of the opportunity to rest many of his core players. All, except Neal, likely would have played if the Penguins still had a chance to overtake Philadelphia for first place in the Atlantic Division, but that point was rendered moot Saturday night. Far more important is that all of them, including Neal, should be available when"
Short-handed effort by Kunitz wasted
March 21
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"At the time, Chris Kunitz's shift as a penalty killer several minutes into the third period Sunday seemed like it might be the story of the Penguins' game against the New York Rangers. After Penguins winger Matt Cooke left his team short-handed for five minutes for elbowing New York's Ryan McDonagh with the score tied, 1-1, Kunitz was a madman in the neutral zone. He pursued. He pressured. He skated furiously. Eventually, he took the puck from New York's Mats Zuccarello, carried it across the blue line and into the right circle, and launched a shot that ticked off of defenseman Dan Girardi and knuckled past the right shoulder of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist at 6:26 for the Penguins' first"
Kunitz back in lineup after 13-game absence
March 9
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Left winger Chris Kunitz returned to the Penguins' lineup Tuesday night after a 13-game absence due to an unspecified injury, but he wasn't a shoo-in most of the day. Although coach Dan Bylsma a day earlier had labeled Kunitz "probable" for the game against Buffalo at Consol Energy Center, his prospects didn't look great during and just after the morning skate. Bylsma did not employ Kunitz on a regular line or in any special teams drills. Afterward, Kunitz said he felt "good enough" to play, but reiterated how frustrating the injury has been and deferred to Bylsma, who called Kunitz "a game-time decision," adding that it was a matter of Kunitz not being put in a position for further"
LW Kunitz likely to play vs. Sabres
March 8
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Left winger Chris Kunitz is listed as probable for the game tonight against Buffalo at Consol Energy Center. That's not surprising. Where he will be used if he returns against the Sabres is. At least a little. Coach Dan Bylsma said Monday that Kunitz, who has missed the past 13 games because of an undisclosed injury, likely would be deployed on a line with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy, moving into a spot generally filled by Matt Cooke. He did not elaborate on where Cooke would be used. Although the Cooke-Staal-Kennedy line has been consistently effective when called upon the past couple of seasons, Bylsma noted that Staal and Kunitz played together after the latter was acquired from"
Kunitz remains out of lineup with injury
March 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Chris Kunitz's comeback has been delayed, at least for a few days. The Penguins had hoped he would return from an undisclosed injury this weekend, but he was not in uniform when they faced Boston Saturday night at TD Garden. "His response to his injury, with an [increased] workload isn't where it needs to be to play without fear of hurting the injury further," coach Dan Bylsma said. Kunitz, who has sat out 13 consecutive games, could play when Buffalo visits Consol Energy Center Tuesday. "Let's hope so," Bylsma said. Kunitz had five goals in the 10 games before he was injured and still ranks second on the team with 18. Only Sidney Crosby, who has not played in more than two months because"
Kunitz's return still on hold
March 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Left winger Chris Kunitz, who has missed the Penguins' past 10 games because of an unspecified injury, took a big step toward returning to the lineup when he went through a full practice Tuesday at Southpointe. He doesn't know, however, when he'll be ready to take the final one. "Sometimes, it takes only a few sessions," he said. "Sometimes, it could take a week." Kunitz added that returning will be viable "when I can absorb that contact you need to play at the NHL level." While Kunitz will not play when the Penguins face Toronto tonight at the Air Canada Centre, a number of other players who have been injured lately will. They include right winger Tyler Kennedy, defenseman Paul Martin and"
Kunitz skates in full gear, could return soon
February 22
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins are getting immediate help at forward after trading for winger James Neal, but help from within might not be far off. Winger Chris Kunitz could be back as soon as Wednesday for a home game against San Jose, coach Dan Bylsma said. Kunitz missed his seventh game in a row Monday when the Penguins played Washington at Consol Energy Center, but earlier in the day he participated in the morning skate, the first time he skated in full gear and with his teammates. "No contact or anything. Just trying to move the legs," Kunitz said. "It's nice to be out there, but there's a lot of areas to work on." Kunitz was scheduled to be evaluated by medical staff Monday night with the hope that a"
Kunitz added to Penguins' list of injured players
February 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Another day brought another injury to an important Penguins forward. Chris Kunitz did not play Tuesday against Columbus because of a lower body injury. He is listed as day-to-day. Kunitz missed Monday's practice, but coach Dan Bylsma said at the time that Kunitz would play against the Blue Jackets."
Kunitz scores hat trick as Penguins thrash Lightning, 8-1
January 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Penguins probably wish HBO had stuck around another week. In their most dominant performance of the season, the Penguins scored early and often — and were aided by one of the more bizarre penalty shots in NHL history — in an 8-1 win over the Lightning. Chris Kunitz recorded his second career hat trick to lead an impressive performance by the Penguins' offense. "It was kind of refreshing to get some of the cameras out of here," Defenseman Alex Goligoski said. "It was back to work." And the Penguins didn't take long in dismissing any thoughts of a lapse following the much-hyped Winter Classic. The highlights: • The eight goals are the most the Penguins have scored all season and the most"
Kunitz listed as probably against Phoenix
December 20
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 (scroll down)
"Penguins top-line left winger Chris Kunitz, who has missed two games because of an undisclosed injury, made it through an hour-long practice at Consol Energy Center and seems probable for tonight's home game against Phoenix. "It's nice to be back practicing with the teammates after a few days off," Kunitz said."
Kunitz's injury spurs top-line switch
December 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Penguins replaced one injured winger with another during practice yesterday morning, but that swap may not hold up for an Atlantic Division showdown with the Flyers at Philadelphia tonight. Center Evgeni Malkin, out the past four games with a sore left knee, skated with center Sidney Crosby and winger Pascal Dupuis at Southpointe Iceoplex. Left wing Chris Kunitz did not practice, and coach Dan Bylsma labeled him as "day to day" because of undisclosed injuries from a win at Buffalo on Saturday night. "He's banged up," Bylsma said of Kunitz. The Penguins would welcome the return of Malkin, who said he was "50-50" to play tonight against the Flyers as they try to extend a winning streak"
Kunitz could be out, but Malkin a maybe
December 14
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins left winger Chris Kunitz missed practice Monday after getting "banged up" Saturday at Buffalo and is day to day, coach Dan Bylsma said. Center Sidney Crosby might get a top-notch replacement for Kunitz on the team's top line when the Penguins play tonight at Philadelphia -- Evgeni Malkin. Malkin, who has missed the past four games because of a sore knee, practiced with Crosby and Pascal Dupuis, taking part in all drills and skating hard. "We'll see [today] at the morning skate," Malkin said. "I feel pretty good. ... It's not sore at all."
Kunitz, Crosby feed off one another
December 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Chris Kunitz will never skate with Marian Hossa's grace, will never showcase a release like Bill Guerin's and will probably never see the ice quite like Mark Recchi. But he might be the best linemate Sidney Crosby has ever had. The Penguins' captain is riding a 13-game scoring streak into tonight's game against Atlanta at Consol Energy Center, and part of his success can be attributed to the terrific play of Kunitz, his wing man of almost two years. Kunitz has always been a streaky scorer yet consistently brings out the best in Crosby. The duo clearly enjoys sharing the ice. "He's a complete player," Crosby said. "He's pretty solid all the way around." There is nothing fancy about Kuntiz's"
Penguins' Kunitz making impact on Crosby's line
November 21
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Chris Kunitz didn't land in Pittsburgh by choice. Not that many NHL wingers would complain about winning a Stanley Cup, playing for a perennial contender and manning the left side of a top line featuring Penguins star center Sidney Crosby. But before he was acquired by the Penguins in a February 2009 trade, Kunitz, who wasn't drafted, had picked his path -- Ferris State in Michigan for college, Anaheim in the NHL as a free agent. "All the way, he got to make his choice," said Kunitz's father, Marvin. Considering the younger Kunitz is in a situation that was foisted upon him, things aren't so bad. This season, he is the team's top-producing winger with seven goals, 12 points in 21 games. He"
Kunitz fits on top power play
October 18
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins coach Dan Bylsma isn't ready to declare the competition closed. He won't proclaim that Chris Kunitz has won the battle for a place on the No. 1 power-play because of the net-front presence he has been providing. But it's no coincidence that the power play has been most effective when Kunitz has been working in and around the other team's crease. That point was reinforced on the Penguins' fourth goal of their 5-1 victory in Philadelphia Saturday night, when Kunitz was stationed directly in front of Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky as a Sidney Crosby slap shot from the top of the slot was beating him low on the right side. "We think it's imperative that we have a guy there," Bylsma"
Injury-plagued Kunitz finds his playoff sea legs
April 21
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"It was not the kind of thing Chris Kunitz wanted to show up on his linescore for the Penguins' first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators. Making a move to bury a shot, the left winger lost his footing and took a header, spawning uproarious laughter. Luckily for him, his pratfall occurred Sunday night in the Penguins' dressing room and the audience was limited to people still in those friendly confines of the otherwise hostile Scotiabank Place following Game 3, and he slunk away with an embarrassed smile, muttering something about someone needing to clean up the water on the floor. "Yeah, a couple of laughs," he recalled Tuesday night. On the other slippery surface, the frozen"
Penguins awaiting word on Cooke, Kunitz
April 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Penguins' task of producing a consistent forecheck against Ottawa is already daunting, given that the Senators deploy among the NHL's largest and most physical group of defensemen. If Chris Kunitz and Matt Cooke can't play tonight, the chore becomes much more difficult. Kunitz and Cooke are game-time decisions in a series that would likely see the Penguins rely on those players' skills even more than usual, assuming they can play. Cooke hasn't played since Saturday in Atlanta, when he was the recipient of a knockout punch from Evander Kane. Kunitz, meanwhile, has been plagued by injuries all season and is dealing with a shoulder problem. "Today was a step in the right direction," Cooke"
Kunitz returns to lineup
February 8
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins left winger Chris Kunitz returned after missing 15 games because of surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle. He had no shots or points, a plus-minus rating of minus-1 and played 13:03. He played with center Sidney Crosby and right winger Bill Guerin, and his return allowed the Penguins to revert to combinations that had become familiar on the top three lines."
Kunitz may return for game against Capitals
February 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"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."
Penguins winger Kunitz out at least 4 weeks after surgery
January 5
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz will miss at least 4 weeks after having surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle. The Penguins have recalled highly-touted prospect Luca Caputi from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He has 13 goals in 36 AHL games this season and will likely play tonight."
Kunitz close to returning to ice for Penguins
December 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"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."
Goligoski, Kunitz 'progressing'
December 4
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins coach Dan Bylsma used the same word to describe his two remaining injured players, saying they are "progressing," but he didn't sound overly optimistic that defenseman Alex Goligoski and winger Chris Kunitz will be back in the lineup imminently. Neither played against the Colorado Avalanche last night at Mellon Arena. Bylsma revealed that Goligoski did not aggravate his groin injury when he came back for a game Saturday against the New York Rangers but sustained a different injury. He did not say what the new injury is. Goligoski skated before the team's morning skate yesterday. "There isn't a timetable on him yet, but he's positively progressing," Bylsma said. Kunitz is not"
Kunitz not making excuses
October 28
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"There are goal-scoring droughts, funks, slumps and skids. And then there is what Chris Kunitz is enduring. The Penguins left wing has yet to register a goal in 11 games this season and has only scored once in his past 40 outings. Kunitz might be down on himself, but the Penguins are certainly supporting him. "There is no excuse for it," Kunitz said. "I feel like I'm playing well, and being streaky is something I've been through over the years. But, like I said, there's no excuse for it." If the Penguins are growing frustrated with Kunitz, they aren't showing it. He has played with captain Sidney Crosby and right wing Bill Guerin in each of those 40 games, and there is no indication the"