Pittsburgh Penguins

The NHL must take action on Cooke; it's not Mario's job

March 21, 2011

There might be a lot of people out there who are quite upset from Matt Cooke’s most recent hit. They have every right to be since this is Matt’s third or fourth suspension in a Penguins Jersey. In a game against the New York Rangers, Cooke threw up an elbow into the face of young defensemen Ryan McDonagh. While the hit will garner a suspension, it should be anywhere from 5-10 games, but Cooke might be in more trouble after that hit. Many people have jumped on top of Pens co-owner Mario Lemieux for not speaking up right after the event. It is called being a hypocrite, some would say, and when someone calls you a hypocrite it typically means that they themselves are also hypocrites. ...

The Playoffs May Come and Go All Too Quickly in Pittsburgh

March 14, 2011

Chuck Gaston Jr

3 Comments

Given the situation in Pittsburgh, it is a testament of will that has kept the Penguins afloat for the past few months. With the losses of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin the Pittsburgh Penguins have suffered a loss of one goal per game. The statistics show that through the first half of the season the Penguins had a goals per game upwards of 3.07 and now the penguins have a measly 2.05 goals per game(since the injury of Crosby and Malkin). This loss of offensive firepower has the penguins in constant back checking mode, forcing the team to play a tougher brand of defense and a basic “Opportunistic” style of offense. Given their situation, Ray Shero has made some moves to improv...

Dan Bylsma Agrees to 3-Year Contract Extension

March 10, 2011

Quinn Mell-Cobb

1 Comment

Since being thrust into the position of the Pittsburgh Penguins' Head Coach just over two years ago, Dan Bylsma has arguably seen very little in the way of losing, whilst also guiding the black and gold to the pinnacle of National Hockey League triumph - the Stanley Cup. On Tuesday, the organization rewarded him for that success, agreeing to terms on a new 3-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season, ensuring that the man known affectionately by Pens' supporters as "Disco Dan" will remain in the fold for the forseeable future. Bylsma, the 40-year old Grand Haven, Michigan native, was originally promoted from his previous post as the bench boss of the Penguins' American Hockey Lea...

Alex Kovalev Returns to Pittsburgh

February 24, 2011

Quinn Mell-Cobb

6 Comments

For the second time in less than a week, Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ray Shero has pulled the trigger on a significant trade to bolster his injury-riddled lineup. And this time, rather than dealing for a young, fresh face such as James Neal or Matt Niskanen, it's for an ex-fan favourite who's greatest individual success arguably came while playing in the Steel City. Alex Kovalev, the enigmatic Russian sniper whose previous tour of duty with the black and gold spanned five seasons and six calendar years, was acquired from the rebuilding Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional 7th round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. If the Penguins advance past the first round of the...

Penguins Acquire James Neal, Matt Niskanen from Dallas Stars

February 21, 2011

Quinn Mell-Cobb

4 Comments

The long-awaited trade deadline bonanza has officially begun in the Steel City, as the Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired young winger James Neal and blueliner Matt Niskanen from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski. The addition of the 23-year old Neal, a three-time 20-goal man who has scored 21 times thus far in 2010-11, is the latest attempt by the franchise to land a top-flight winger, one who will undoubtedly play alongside Sidney Crosby upon his eventual return from injury. Neal's playing style, an underrated combination of bruising physicality fused with a deft scoring touch and nose for the net, should allow him to mesh flawlessly with Head Coach Dan Bylsma's ...

Goalie Fight on the Island; Islanders obliterate Penguins

February 12, 2011

Adam Reid

5 Comments

At one time, a goaltender fight would be a rare occasion, let alone twice in one week by the same guy. Brent Johnson apparently wants to make a name for himself, as he got in his second scrap Friday Night in just over a week against the same New York Islanders squad, except this time, his team had the last laugh. Last Wednesday, with only seconds remaining in the game, a scrap between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders ensued after Matt Cooke ran into Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro as he went for the puck off a dump in. With tempers running high, all the players got into the fight, including the two goaltenders, as Johnson skated down the ice, where he started a short ...

Pittsburgh Penguins in hot water?

February 9, 2011

Adam Reid

6 Comments

Things just seem to keep getting worse for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as the team learned Wednesday that they would be without star forward Evgeni Malkin for the rest of the season. Malkin will undergo knee surgery on Thursday and is expected to be out of the lineup for six months. Malkin tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his right knee after he collided with Buffalo Sabres’ defencemen Tyler Myers in the second period of Friday night’s win over Buffalo. It was Malkin’s first game back after sitting out five games with a knee problem and a sinus infection. In 43 games this season, he has 15 goals and 37 points. This is horrible news for th...

Guess What? Matt Cooke is STILL a Dirty Player

February 9, 2011

George Prax

4 Comments

Normally, when you commit a crime, it's probably smart to stray away from doing anything illegal for a little while. You know, until the heat wears off. But when you have obvious mental troubles, like in the case of Matt Cooke, it must be difficult to process this sort of logic. Three days ago, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke skated most of the way across the rink in the defensive zone and pretty much went out of his way to take out Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. A day later, I sounded off on the hit and the trail of bodies Cooke has left behind over the last couple of years, justifiably calling him the dirtiest player in the game. A day after that, to no one's...

Matt Cooke: Dirtiest Player in the League?

February 7, 2011

George Prax

14 Comments

Those of us who decided to watch some early-afternoon hockey yesterday on NBC, between the rival Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, prior to the day's Superbowl festivities, were treated to this little gem by everyone's favorite NHL thug, Matt Cooke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-6_OsyIJqs In case your Youtube isn't working, the play is pretty simple to describe. Alex Ovechkin grabs the puck in front of his own net and decides to break out of the defensive zone. The Penguins' Matt Cooke, standing pretty much on the other side of the rink, goes completely out of his way, takes 7 or 8 strides, extends his leg and takes out Alex Ovechkin with a vicious knee-on-knee hit. ...

Malkin Tears ACL and MCL, Likely Done for Season

February 5, 2011

Quinn Mell-Cobb

4 Comments

Right when many people thought news on the injury front could not possibly get any worse for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it has. Head Coach Dan Bylsma announced this morning that Evgeni Malkin suffered a torn MCL and ACL in his right knee during last night’s 3-2 comeback victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres at the CONSOL Energy Center. While chasing down a loose puck during the second period, Malkin came together with Sabres’ defensive stalwart Tyler Myers and fell awkwardly along the end boards, only to have Myers land on top of his right knee as he dropped to the ice with him. Myers got to his feet after the collision, but Malkin remained down on the ice after the play was whistled...