Matt Cooke

Lessons Learned?

May 13, 2013

Lessons Learned?

With all due respect to the New York Islanders tremendous play in round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins were terrible.

They refused to alter their stretch passing breakout plan after the Islanders set up a 1-3-1 trapping system. They refused to battle for long stretches of time in order to stifle the quick transition game of the Islanders. The Penguins almost refused to change everything except for the goaltender and while this worked out to their advantage, it is not going to work this time around.

The Ottawa Senators, the Penguins next opponent in round two of the playoffs, are a completely animal than that of the Islanders. Th...

Islanders Even Up Series with Penguins At Nassau Coliseum

May 8, 2013

Jane Fisher

2 Comments

Isles Tie Series With Pens at 2 Games Each. Much more exciting hockey to come out of the next three games.

Pittsburgh Earns Record Win As Islanders Squander Opportunities

March 30, 2013

Donovan Brooks

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The victory, Pittsburgh's 15th straight, was also a record night in another way: the Pens have extended their club record shutout streak. The Pens shutout streak now extends over 208 minutes as Pittsburgh has won the last three by shutout.

Pens netminder Tomas Vokoun has extended his personal best shutout streak to just shy of 163 minutes.

The game could have went another way though.

Examining The Acquisitions

March 29, 2013

Chuck Gaston Jr

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When a team finds success in the NHL on a consistent basis, it is very difficult for GM’s to tinker with said success in order to find greater success. It is the easiest explanation as to how the NHL has witnessed such playoff parity. In the modern cap era it has become even more difficult to place a team on the ice that has a continued shot at a championship. So with all of this in perspective, is it possible that we see a Stanley Cup champion this season that has also won the cup within the past five seasons?

It is the question that seemingly everyone in the NHL is waiting to see. With Pittsburgh and Chicago pushing the boundaries of greatness, the NHL might finally witness ...

Flyers, Pens Match Up For Another Classic Battle

March 7, 2013

John Russo

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The Flyers need to rebound after a bad loss against the Rangers on Tuesday. The task won't be easy as they host the first place Penguins. It's going to be another bitter, nasty rivalry game and it's gonna be in the city of Brotherly Love

NY Islanders Open 3 Game Road Trip in Ottawa

February 19, 2013

Jane Fisher

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NY Islanders Open 3 Game Road Trip in Ottawa (Photo: SelectiMAJ/Flickr)

Loss Of Karlsson Is A Loss For The League

February 14, 2013

Chuck Gaston Jr

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In the second period of last night’s regular season game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators, defenseman Erik Karlsson suffered a devastating injury.

While making a play on the boards, Karlsson collided with Matt Cooke of the Penguins. In what is a routine play, Matt Cooke positions his body to gain leverage on Karlsson. In the event of the collision one can see Cooke’s leg lift into the air, roughly in line with the height of Karlsson’s calf. Once the two made contact on the boards, Cooke’s skate abruptly strikes downward, lacerating the Achilles Tendon of Karlsson.

Karlsson was in instant pain, as the clean cut instantly seve...

Penguins Roster Finalized

January 18, 2013

Chuck Gaston Jr

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The 23 man roster has been set as the Penguins head into the 2013 season. The interesting aspect of the current roster was Coach Dan Bylsma’s selection of eight defensemen.

With the roster of defensemen set at eight, the Penguins had to place Brian Straight on waivers. It is surfacing now that Strait was claimed off of waivers by the New York Islanders. While a good pick up for the Isles, it is a difficult loss of depth for the Penguins.

It is expected that both Robert Bortuzzo and Ben Lovejoy will be the 7th and 8th defensemen in the rotation, giving highly touted prospect Simon Despres a spot among the Penguins top 4 pairing. It is expect as well that...

NHL 2012-2013: Rethinking the Shanaban

August 23, 2012

Dillon Friday

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Here's the scene: It’s game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have frustrated the Flyers for two and a half games now, stifling the high flying attack that dismissed the favored Penguins in six games.

New Jersey leads this seven game series two games to one.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins Display The Problems With NHL Officiating

April 15, 2012

Rob McGowan

3 Comments

The NHL fined the Isles last year $100,000 for the brawl game vs. the Pens, but the Pens did not get fined anything despite a player leaving the bench as a sixth skater to join a fight on the ice - which, by the way, means the head coach should be suspended for one game - he wasn't. But owner Mario Lemieux stated that the NHL didn't do enough to punish the Isles for that disgrace of a game.
Keep in mind that Matt Martin and Trevor Gillies received suspensions. They rightfully deserved them, and Godard got the 10 games required for leaving the bench, but the Penguins didn't receive any other suspensions or fines of any kind.
Lemieux, despite the one-sided disciplinary action, still felt that the league didn't do enough.