The Confluence
Entries with the tag: Pittsburgh+Penguins
Penguins’ “Dallas” pre-black open
by Tony on 03/11/10 at 04:41 PM ET
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Stick-tap to the Penguins’ Chris Devivo for the upload. This is the “Dallas"-themed video that is shown at the Igloo:
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Will “Superstar” Talbot be the odd man out?
by Tony on 03/11/10 at 10:36 AM ET
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It’s a nice luxury for Penguins’ head coach Dan Bylsma to have.
The trade deadline day acquisition of Alexei Ponikarovsky, along with the recent non-suspension of Matt Cooke and the healed back of Bill Guerin, has forced HCDB into having to make a difficult decision starting with tonight’s game in Raleigh. With 13 forwards on the roster, who’s gonna sit ?
Realistically, Bylsma only has a few choices. But one recent Penguins hero may have to be the odd man out.
The “Superstar”.
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Fedotenko Aims for Another Strong Finish
by Tony on 03/09/10 at 10:17 AM ET
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The Penguins version of a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. From PittsburghPenguins.com’s Jason Seidling:
Fedotenko and Malkin have continued to skate together for much of this season. Following last Tuesday’s trade deadline they have been joined by newcomer Alexei Ponikarovsky, a long-time friend of Fedotenko who grew up in the same town of Kiev.
Ponikarovsky’s addition gives the line three big bodies who all play a relatively similar game, which has helped the unit form an instant chemistry.
“So far so good,” Fedotenko said of his line. “I feel like we have had two good games. I feel like we would definitely like to create more scoring, though. We have had good puck possession and created some chances. It is only a matter of time when we really click in and know where each one of us is located so we finish and score some goals.”
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Ponikarovsky, Leopold will make Penguins even tougher team to beat
by Tony on 03/06/10 at 09:59 PM ET
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The Penguins’ two acquisitions at the trade deadline didn’t make big headlines around the NHL, especially compared to the Hossa deal of two seasons ago. Two good, but not great players at forward and defense.
Some would argue they didn’t need too much help to begin with. I’m not one of those people, but some would.
But with Alexei Ponikarovsky and Jordan Leopold now in the Penguins’ fold, it makes an already-strong group that much stronger, and that’s not good news for the rest of the NHL.
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Ponikarovsky Excited to Join Penguins
by Tony on 03/04/10 at 09:53 AM ET
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From PittsburghPenguins.com’s Jason Seidling:
“It’s a good feeling because (Toronto) hasn’t been a contender for the playoffs the past four or five years now,” Ponikarovsky said. “I remember the days when we were playing in the playoffs every year. It’s a big change right now for me. I am excited.
“The Maple Leafs are my first team. I was drafted by them and they helped me become an (NHL) player. But I am going to be 30 years old (on April 9). It was time for me to move on. I know that trades happen. Sometimes they are good and sometimes they are bad. I am pretty happy with the trade and where I am coming to.”
Penguins fans will have to wait to see Ponikarovsky make his debut in a Pittsburgh sweater as he won’t have a working visa in time to dress against the New York Rangers on Thursday. His first game will instead occur at Mellon Arena on Saturday when the Penguins play host to the Dallas Stars.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins, Toronto+Maple+Leafs,
Penguins win garnered 2nd highest Regular Season ratings
by Tony on 03/03/10 at 08:10 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
Last night’s Pittsburgh Penguins win over the Buffalo Sabres garnered the second highest NHL regular season rating on FSN Pittsburgh, according to Nielsen Media Research. The game, which averaged an 11.73 HH rating, was the first for the Pens coming off the Olympic break and was viewed by more than 134,800 households in the Pittsburgh DMA.
“The buzz of the gold medal game no doubt generated a halo effect and prompted not only our core fans, but also many new viewers to watch the Olympic heroes’ return on FSN Pittsburgh. This is evident by our second highest regular season rating of all time,” said Ted Black, Senior VP/General Manager, FSN Pittsburgh. “As the Penguins keep winning and as they move closer to the playoffs, I think we will see more and more people tuning in.”
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Penguins trade defenseman Peluso to Toronto for 2010 6th round pick
by Tony on 03/03/10 at 03:34 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired a 2010 sixth-round draft pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Chris Peluso, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Peluso, 23, is currently playing collegiately for Bemidji State of College Hockey America. The senior defenseman has seven assists and a plus-4 rating in 24 games. Peluso was originally drafted by the Penguins in the seventh round (194th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
The Penguins now have eight draft picks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft with a first-, third-, fourth-, fifth-, three sixth- and a seventh-round selection.
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Video of Penguins’ ceremony honoring Olympians
by Tony on 03/03/10 at 08:37 AM ET
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Tags: Buffalo+Sabres, NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Report: Ponikarovsky to Penguins for Caputi and Skoula
by Tony on 03/02/10 at 09:50 PM ET
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According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s Tweet:
Sources tell TSN deal in place for Ponikarovsky to Pittsburgh for prospect Luca Caputi but Pitt has to move contract for cap reasons first.
UPDATE 9:49pm: Again per Bob McKenzie:
Pending trade call with NHL, Pitt is sending Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula to Tor for Alex Ponikarovsky. No draft picks involved.
Penguins press release after the jump:
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Various Penguins quotes after Olympics, Leopold trade
by Tony on 03/01/10 at 03:00 PM ET
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From PittsburghPenguins.com’s Sam Kasan:
On how he (Head Coach Dan Bylsma) was rooting in the U.S.-Canada game:
It’s tough to pinpoint where exactly your rooting interest is. I certainly wanted USA to win. I was cheering for USA. When they scored to tie the game with 25 seconds left I reacted more than when we score on the bench. I was rooting for USA and my interest was there. When Sidney Crosby took a step off the wall and had (Brian) Rafalski behind him, it was over. I saw it happen and I knew it was over and going in. I thought maybe he would go to his backhand when you look back on it. That was my feeling when he stepped off the wall and beat his man – this game is over.On Miller possibly expecting a backhand too:
Sid took a quick shot. Ryan Miller, as that puck was probably going by him, was realizing ‘he just took a quick shot on me.’ He probably wasn’t set up for what was coming at him. I might have taken the quick shot but I probably wouldn’t have scored. That’s a goal scorer and a guy who seems to an incredible knack for the dramatic. He got his space and got the puck on a great play from Jarome (Iginla). I think before the puck went into the net you had a sense it was going in.
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Jordan Leopold to Penguins for 2010 2nd round pick
by Tony on 03/01/10 at 09:38 AM ET
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According to On Frozen Pond Twitter, the Florida Panthers have traded defenseman Jordan Leopold to the Penguins for a 2010 2nd round draft pick.
UPDATE: Penguins press release after the jump.
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Tags: Florida+Panthers, NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Gonchar extension talks put off until end of season
by Tony on 03/01/10 at 07:15 AM ET
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This is not good at all, in my view. From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Rossi:
The Penguins and defenseman Sergei Gonchar aren’t close on a contract extension, and talks between general manager Ray Shero and agent JP Barry won’t resume until after the season.
Barry said Sunday he met with Shero in Vancouver, British Columbia, during the Olympics, and “offers that would be acceptable to us over two different terms” were provided to the Penguins.
“Ray explained ... they are not in a position to counter at this juncture,” Barry said. “We both agreed that it is again time to focus on the performance of the team. Sergei does not want his contractual status to be any kind of distraction as the team tries to defend the Cup.
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Oh by the way, trade deadline is one week away
by Tony on 02/24/10 at 06:04 PM ET
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Like everyone else, I’ve been consumed with the Olympic hockey. The Canada/Russia game tonight should be, shall I say, intense. And I hope the USA doesn’t take their collective feet off the throttle in today’s rematch vs. Switzerland.
But while the tournament has so far lived up to it’s billing, it has overshadowed the trade deadline, which is one week from today.
In what may very well be known to the Penguins as the “rental player deadline”, speculation is that GMRS will attempt to trade for a winger and a defensive defenseman. How he will go about that, as well as what he’ll have to give up in order to get those assets, is anybody’s guess.
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On the Penguins: Goal-scoring winger would be nice, but won’t be easy
by Tony on 02/21/10 at 10:32 AM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dave Molinari:
The list includes Ray Shero of the Penguins, who is believed to be seeking a goal-scoring winger to play alongside Evgeni Malkin and a defenseman with a physical edge.
The pool of conventional “rental” wingers—basically, veterans who will become unrestricted free agents after this season—from which to choose is pretty limited, though, because all but a handful of teams remain in contention for a playoff berth.
In the East, only Carolina and Toronto are more than six points behind Montreal, which holds down eighth place in the conference. Things are even tighter in the West, where Columbus and Edmonton are the only clubs more than five points behind eighth-place Calgary.
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Crosby serves up a ping-pong loss
by Tony on 02/18/10 at 05:05 PM ET
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From the Vancouver Sun’s Steve Ewen:
Apparently Sidney Crosby is an underdog in mixed doubles ping-pong.
Crosby and Meaghan Mikkelson of the Canadian women’s hockey team lost 4-3 to his teammate Shea Weber and her teammate Rebecca Johnston in a heated table tennis tilt at the athletes village earlier this week.
Crosby and Mikkelson had a 3-0 lead at one point.
“We want to play them again,” demanded Mikkelson.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Penguins Prospect Profile: Eric Tangradi
by Tony on 02/18/10 at 04:29 PM ET
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From PittsburghPenguins.com’s Jason Seidling:
Speaking of Tangradi playing in Pittsburgh, fans have been dreaming of him one day flanking Sidney Crosby ever since the Penguins acquired him. These are expectations Tangradi does not shy away from.
“It is definitely some added pressure, but to be able to add that to your motivation is huge,” Tangradi said. “When people think that about you, it just motivates you to live up to the hype and try to become that player. It doesn’t come over night so you have to work at it and stick to the game plan.” Crosby and Tangradi gave a brief glimpse of just how lethal they might be together down the road when they played together on the same line in the Penguins’ exhibition opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sept. 15. Tangradi set up two Crosby tallies as the Penguins overcame a 3-0 deficit to win 5-4 in overtime. “From practicing and playing the game with him, I think we got off to a great start,” Tangradi said. “Hopefully sometime down the road we can build a chemistry for a few years to come.”
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Penguins president: Consol Energy Center about 75 percent done
by Tony on 02/17/10 at 01:12 PM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Jeremy Boren:
The new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins is about 75 percent complete, team President Ken Sawyer said today during a tour of the Consol Energy Center.
Activity in what will become an 18,087-seat arena was at an all-time high as hundreds of workers painted, trimmed tile and began reinforcing the hockey rink floor for the arrival of a giant high-definition scoreboard that will be assembled inside before it is lifted to the ceiling.
Sawyer said the views of Downtown and the open concourses will impress fans, who will be able to grab a soda or beer and stroll to open views of the ice so they don’t miss any action.
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Penguins’ Orpik knows about miracles
by Tony on 02/16/10 at 09:11 AM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook:
Anybody named after Herb Brooks just had to gravitate to hockey sooner or later. Brooks coached the United States team to a staggering upset of Russia at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., after delivering one of the great motivational speeches of all time. Seven months after that amazing club secured the most unlikely gold medal in history, Orpik was born.
“My dad is from Boston and he liked hockey,” Orpik said. “I don’t know how he ever talked my mother into that name.” Here’s guessing she didn’t like Herb.
How proud Brooks would be of the way Orpik has turned out. As the Penguins’ most physical defenseman and a key member of the 2009 Stanley Cup champions, to be sure. But especially as a proud U.S. Olympian.
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Penguins re-assign Letestu, Curry
by Tony on 02/15/10 at 09:35 AM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forward Mark Letestu and goaltender John Curry to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Letestu, who made his NHL debut Nov. 14 against Boston, has appeared in 10 games this season for Pittsburgh. Letestu recorded his first career NHL goal (and point) in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 victory over Buffalo Feb. 1.
Curry has played in one game for Pittsburgh this year (Jan. 16 at Vancouver). In four career NHL games, Curry has a 2-2 record.
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Penguins’ hockey goes high tech at new arena
by Tony on 02/14/10 at 09:15 AM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Mark Belko:
- It will not be your father’s arena by any means. There will be a scoreboard so large that it will stretch from blue line to blue line. Four high-definition video screens, one for each side, will be 25 feet wide and 15 feet tall, or as big as the entire scoreboard at Mellon Arena. They will show game action, replays and other highlights.
- Robotic cameras will be built into a dasher board at center ice and in one of the corners. The Penguins hope the technology will serve as a video treat not only for those at the game but also for those viewing on TV. “You’ll feel like you’re sitting behind the glass. At home, you’ll get that experience like you’re in the front row,” Mr. Sawyer said. The 40 or so camera positions to be employed at the new arena will be significantly more than at Mellon Arena, allowing for more close-ups and isolated shots to enhance viewing.
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Some Canadian players hoping to make a quiet arrival
by Tony on 02/13/10 at 09:48 PM ET
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FSN Pittsburgh reported Friday that the Penguins’ Team Canada players will stop in Columbus, pick up Rick Nash, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook then fly to Vancouver. From Chris Johnston of the Canadian Press:
Sidney Crosby isn’t likely to make a splashy entrance at the Olympics.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star and his Team Canada teammates will touch down over several hours on Sunday - although specific details about their flights are being kept quiet by Hockey Canada. A source told The Canadian Press that Crosby will fly in on a charter with Penguins teammates Marc-Andre Fleury, Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin following their afternoon home game against Nashville.
Crosby will arguably be the most recognizable athlete at these Games and his arrival is bound to cause a stir. However, it should be lessened with him arriving on a charter and avoiding the main terminal at Vancouver International Airport.
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Penguins recall goaltender John Curry
by Tony on 02/13/10 at 06:36 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled goaltender John Curry from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Curry, 25, has played in one game with Pittsburgh this season (Jan. 16 at Vancouver). In four NHL career games, he has a 2-2 record.
Curry made his National Hockey League debut last season playing in three games for Pittsburgh. The netminder posted a 2-1 record, 2.40 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. Curry played his first career NHL game and recorded his first win Nov. 26 at NY Islanders.
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Penguins wingers need to find the back of the net
by Tony on 02/13/10 at 01:54 PM ET
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After yet another game in which the Penguins only offense was provided by Sidney Crosby’s 40th and 41st goals, it highlighted the need for scoring from Pens not named Crosby or Malkin.
With the March 3rd trade deadline looming after the Olympic break, with a plethora of soon-to-be Unrestricted Free Agents, not to mention attempting to overtake the New Jersey Devils for the Atlantic Division lead, some of those under-performing wings might very well be finding themselves on their way out of the ‘Burgh in a couple of weeks.
It’s one of the tougher parts of the job for GMRS, not only because some of them were integral parts of the defending Stanley Cup champions, but because they have a history of turning it up in the playoffs.
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Latest Consol Energy Center construction update
by Tony on 02/12/10 at 01:46 PM ET
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The new barn is really starting to look great. Courtesy of PensTV’s Katie O’Malley;
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Penguins, Blues swap defensemen Guenin, Wagner
by Tony on 02/11/10 at 05:19 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Steve Wagner from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Nate Guenin, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero. Wagner, who will be reporting to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, spent the last three-plus seasons in the St. Louis organization after signing as a free agent in 2007. He has appeared in 46 career NHL games for the Blues, posting four goals and 12 points. Wagner, 25, has played extensively in Peoria of the AHL – St. Louis’ top minor-league affiliate. In 130 games with the Rivermen, the Grand Rapids, Minnesota native has compiled 15 goals, 37 assists and 52 points.
Wagner (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) played three collegiate seasons at Minnesota State – Mankato from 2004-07. In 113 contests as a Maverick, he posted 12 goals and 55 points. Wagner also played with Tri-City of the United States Hockey League for two seasons. He helped the Storm capture the Anderson Cup (league regular-season championship) and finish second in the Clark Cup (postseason championship) in 2004.
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Penguins Fantasy Camp this weekend
by Tony on 02/11/10 at 10:00 AM ET
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From the Penguins:
Two-time Stanley Cup champion and current radio analyst Phil Bourque leads a group of former Penguins who will strap on the pads and return to the ice for the Penguins Adult Fantasy Camp, to be held this weekend at Iceoplex at Southpointe, Bladerunners (Harmarville) and Mellon Arena. Ex-Penguins John Cullen, Chris Tamer and Dave Roche also will take part. The annual fantasy camp, now in its eighth year, offers participants a unique opportunity to meet and play hockey with former Penguins players, skate on Mellon Arena ice and attend two Penguins games.
The camp will get underway Friday with skills events and team practices at Iceoplex at Southpointe. The fantasy campers also will attend the Penguins’ game that night against the New York Rangers at Mellon Arena. On Saturday, there will be a three-game round-robin tournament at Bladerunners (Harmarville). On Sunday, campers will attend the Penguins’ game vs. Nashville at 1 p.m., then take part in their own playoffs and championship game for the Penguins Fantasy Cup on Mellon Arena ice.
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Even the athletes look forward to Sid the Kid
by Tony on 02/10/10 at 08:20 PM ET
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From the Edmonton Sun’s Terry Jones:
Do you wonder if there is there resentment here for an Olympics in Canada where the NHL players will come to steal their show?
Nineteen-year-old world silver medal-winning figure skater Patrick Chan, when he was asked who he was most looking forward to meeting in the village, said that was an easy question. “The hockey players! I’m a huge fan. Sidney Crosby. He’s the guy!”
Jessica Gregg, the short track speed skating daughter of five-time Stanley Cup champion and former Olympic hockey player Randy Gregg, wouldn’t figure to get all ga-ga about the arrival of some hockey players. “We’re all excited to see them. We all know exactly the day they’re coming. If we get a chance to meet them in the lounge or in the cafeteria, that’s an exciting part. All of us are looking forward to meeting Sidney Crosby.”
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Penguins recall forward Mark Letestu
by Tony on 02/10/10 at 09:36 AM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Mark Letestu from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Letestu, 25, has made seven appearances for Pittsburgh this year. He made his NHL debut in the Penguins’ 6-5 overtime win against Boston Nov. 14, and recorded his first career NHL goal (and point) in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 victory over Buffalo Feb. 1.
Despite playing only 37 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year, Letestu (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) ranks second on the team in goals (16), assists (24) and points (40). The Elk Point, Alberta native paces the team with a plus-11 rating.
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Penguins submit bid for 2011 NHL All-Star game
by Tony on 02/09/10 at 01:32 PM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dave Molinari:
The Penguins have submitted a bid to the National Hockey League to have the 2011 All-Star game played at the Consol Energy Center.
There is no word on when the league will select the site for that game.
Also, the Penguins, in conjunction with Robert Morris University, will apply to have the Frozen Four, the college hockey championship, played in the new arena in 2013 or 2014.
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Ryan Whitney needs no validation
by Tony on 02/09/10 at 07:53 AM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Rob Rossi:
Defenseman Ryan Whitney, admittedly “pretty ticked off” upon hearing Dec. 30 from Team USA general manager Brian Burke that he was not on the initial Olympic roster, channeled his anger into inspiration instead of taking it as a crushing blow.
“I have a totally different perspective of how to handle things,” Whitney said Monday of the refined approach he adopted after last season, which he opened on the sidelines with a surgically repaired foot, included successful surgery on his mother to remove a brain tumor, and ended playing for the Anaheim Ducks after the Penguins traded him as part of a package for winger Chris Kunitz last February.
“It really is just a game ... and it’s a business, but none of it is personal. There is real life to deal with.”
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NBC’s Penguins/Capitals Ratings Tie Season High
by Tony on 02/08/10 at 01:51 PM ET
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And boy doesn’t this tie into the last post. From Puck the Media’s Steve Lepore:
According to Sports Business Daily (reg. required), NBC’s telecast of the Penguins/Capitals Sunday showdown scored a 1.3 overnight rating, tying the two weeks ago telecast of Pens/Flyers for the network’s best rating for an indoor game this season. It’s also the best overnight rating to date for Pittsburgh-Washington, which the NHL has attempted to promote as it’s biggest rivalry.
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Assessing the NHL/NBC decision to play Pens-Caps on Sunday
by Tony on 02/08/10 at 01:45 PM ET
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Queue the “he’s only whining because the Penguins lost” tape (not that I agree with that). From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Rossi:
Reckless and disgraceful; no better words describe the NHL and NBC’s decision to have the Penguins and Washington Capitals play Sunday at Verizon Center.
From my dialogue over the weekend with folks at the NHL and with the Penguins and Capitals, I can deduce only one reason that the league would risk the safety of two teams, fans and arena workers – ratings, as in whatever Nielsen hits the NBC “NHL Game of the Week” could garner between the Super Bowl Sunday hours of 1-3 p.m. That span of time represented treasured TV real estate, it was explained to me, because many Americans are searching for programming to fill the gap between the meat of Super Bowl pregame shows and the actual contest itself. Plus, dare I forget to mention, Sunday was NBC’s only regular-season opportunity to broadcast a game featuring league top draws SIDNEY CROSBY and ALEX OVECHKIN. (An email to NBC was not returned Saturday.) To paraphrase what an agent once told me : This is a terrible, disgusting business; and we’ve all sacrificed something we would rather have back to be a part of it.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins, Washington+Capitals,
Penguins re-assign forward Letestu
by Tony on 02/08/10 at 12:57 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forward Mark Letestu to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Letestu recorded his first career NHL goal (and point) in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 victory over Buffalo Feb. 1. Letestu, who made his NHL debut Nov. 14 against Boston, has appeared in seven games this season for Pittsburgh.
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Penguins’ prospect Hanowski ties it up with .01 left
by Tony on 02/08/10 at 10:47 AM ET
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Stick-tap to Puck Daddy’s Ryan Lambert for the find: Penguins’ 2009 3rd round draft pick Ben Hanowski scores to tie the game with .01 left on the clock for St. Cloud State vs. the University of Alaska Anchorage.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Penguins’ new “Defy Ordinary” commercial
by Tony on 02/07/10 at 09:57 PM ET
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Here is the Pens’ new “Defy Ordinary” commercial, which debuted tonight during the second half of the Super Bowl in the Pittsburgh area:
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Penguins reassign forward Tim Wallace
by Tony on 02/07/10 at 10:34 AM ET
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Looks like Chris Kunitz will make his return today. From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forward Tim Wallace from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Wallace, 25, played in Pittsburgh’s contest against the Montreal Canadiens Saturday afternoon, recording three hits in 5:50 minutes of ice time.
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Crosby, like Lemieux in 1987, gets his chance to be Canada’s hero
by Tony on 02/07/10 at 09:32 AM ET
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From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Dejan Kovacevic (great to see Dejan writing hockey articles again):
By the time the torch is lit Friday to open the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the American narrative will have been foretold by a national media always seeking the next cereal-box icon: There will be superb skiier Lindsey Vonn, flamehaired snowboarder Shaun White and speedskating ace Apolo Anton Ohno.
Not in the eyes of the host nation, though. In Canada, these will be the Sidney Games. Sidney Crosby, perhaps the most precocious athlete in Pittsburgh’s history, captain of the Stanley Cup champion Penguins and the undisputed face of the National Hockey League, is about to go home and represent his country for the first time in major international competition. And that home will be delighted to have him back.
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Possible change in start times at Penguins’ new arena?
by Tony on 02/07/10 at 09:26 AM ET
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Wanna pose a question for the Penguins fans who actually attend games on a regular basis. John Mehno of the Beaver County Times opined yesterday that when the Penguins move across the street to the Consol Energy Center that the Pens may attempt to move the start times back from 7:30PM to 7PM local. According to Mehno, the games were moved to 7:30 because “the downtown restaurant association whined that they were losing pre-game dinner business”. Mehno believes the Pens might try to change it back to 7PM, since the new arena will have a variety of options to have a pre-game meal.
A quick glance at the NHL schedule shows that most of the teams in the NHL start their games at 7:00PM local.
So I ask those of you who are season ticket holders or attend many games during the year: How much of a difference, positively or negatively, will changing the game start time back to 7PM make to you?
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Penguins faceoff with travel dilemma
by Tony on 02/06/10 at 10:18 PM ET
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UPDATE 10:16: Penguins have landed in Newark, approx. 5 hour drive via bus to DC. Also, per the Capitals, “As of 10 p.m. ET Saturday, the Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7, at Verizon Center remains as scheduled. The Penguins are en route to Washington, D.C., and are expected to arrive tonight.”
UPDATE: From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Rob Rossi’s Tweet,
Pens to fly into Newark, NJ tonight ... four hour drive to DC.
From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Dave Molinari:
Washington is one of many cities in the East being battered by snow today, and reports this morning indicate that travel into and out of that area is treacherous, at best. That’s an issue for the Penguins, who will face Montreal today at 2:08 p.m. at the Bell Centre but are scheduled to play Washington at the Verizon Center Sunday at 12:08 p.m. Team officials still are trying to settle on the best way to get the team to Washington after the game against the Canadiens Because virtually all air traffic into that region has been stopped, one option might be to fly as close as they can, then take a train or bus the rest of the way. Of course, that assumes that the trains are running or that the highways are passable.
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Destiny’s Child
by Tony on 02/06/10 at 08:30 PM ET
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From Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price:
The signs got to him first. He was ready for the official one on the right there, just as they rolled past the town limit—COLE HARBOUR, HOME OF SIDNEY CROSBY—but then they kept coming, block letters slapped up on light boards at the businesses lining Cole Harbour Road: WELCOME HOME at the Petro-Canada station, HAPPY BIRTHDAY at Kyte’s Pharmasave, CONGRATS! at Chris Brothers Meats. And the thought began to rise: I didn’t dream this alone. They wanted it for me too....
Still, he was doing O.K., waving and flashing that boy-band grin from the antique fire truck, one hand on the massive silver prize. Indeed, this had pretty much been the plan when, just minutes after leading Pittsburgh to the 2009 Stanley Cup championship, the Penguins’ center had been the first to reserve—captain’s prerogative—his day with the legendary Cup: August 7, his 22nd birthday. His jersey number (87) and salary ($8.7 million) had been famously chosen to honor the 8/7/87 arrival of Canada’s Next One; it was only right—not to mention superstitious and relentlessly cute—that after fulfilling all the promise and hype, after proving himself the heir of Howe and Orr and Gretzky, Crosby would choose this day to bring the supreme token of success home to Nova Scotia.
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If you’re Ray Shero, how many tweaks do you make to the Penguins’ roster?
by Tony on 02/06/10 at 07:21 PM ET
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Shazam! Congratulations, you’re now Penguins’ GM Ray Shero. Your Stanley Cup defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a fairly comfortable playoff position with 24 games remaining but have been quite inconsistent, going a mediocre 23-19-1 after starting the season with a 12-3 record.
So with that under your belt, just how many tweaks, if any, do you make Ray?
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Penguins recall forwards Letestu, Wallace
by Tony on 02/05/10 at 10:33 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forwards Mark Letestu and Tim Wallace from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Letestu, who turned 25 years old Thursday, has made five appearances for Pittsburgh this year. He made his NHL debut in the Penguins’ 6-5 overtime win against Boston Nov. 14, and recorded his first career NHL goal (and point) in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 victory over Buffalo Monday night. Despite playing only 37 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year, Letestu (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) ranks second on the team in goals (16), assists (24) and points (40). The Elk Point, Alberta native paces the team with a plus-11 rating.
Wallace, 25, has spent the entire season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 47 games he has posted 14 goals and 21 points. Wallace (6-foot-1, 207 pounds) made his NHL debut last season, playing 16 games for Pittsburgh and recording two assists. The Anchorage, Alaska native joined WBS in 2006 after playing four collegiate seasons at Notre Dame. Wallace is the Irish’s all-time “iron man” after not missing a game in four years (153 games). Wallace also played two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2000-02, and won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 2000 Under-18 World Championships.
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Young Penguins Fan Jack Rosensteel Wins Reebok’s “Why Hockey Rocks!” Competition
by Tony on 02/05/10 at 10:06 AM ET
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From PittsburghPenguins.com’s Jason Seidling:
Shouts of joy rang through the Rosensteel house when the announcement was made as several family members gathered to watch the final results. The winner was announced during the first intermission of a game between the Women’s USA Hockey Team and Finland, which dropped the puck at 9 p.m., so Jack’s parents, Chad and Melissa, had to make sure he was awake for the announcement.
“This was past Jack’s bedtime, but we made sure he took a nap today,” Melissa said. Jack won $2,500 in Reebok merchandise for taking home the top prize.
The Rosensteels, who were ecstatic to get the good news, said Jack had a lot of fun during this experience, including an invitation by the Penguins to Monday’s 5-4 victory over Buffalo.
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Final days of Mellon Arena evoke range of emotions
by Tony on 02/04/10 at 02:39 PM ET
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From MetroWNY.com’s Mike Haim:
It’s been almost 14 years since Sabres fans adjusted to life in a new arena. When NHL hockey games in Buffalo transferred from Memorial Auditorium to HSBC Arena, there were definitely positive and negative reactions. In the new barn, fans in the upper deck (or the “300 level”) had to come to grips with being further away from the ice. Fans in the lower levels (especially the club or “200s”) loved the added amenities and comfort that never existed in the old place.
Those reactions will surely be duplicated this fall when the Pittsburgh Penguins move from their only home, the quirky Mellon Arena, to the sparkling new Consol Energy Center across the street. The Pens have 13 regular season home games remaining in “the Igloo,” plus an undetermined number of playoff contests. Fans there are hoping the doors will shut after Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup, something which would be a crowning achievement for an arena that’s been in use for NHL play longer than all others save New York’s Madison Square Garden.
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Twitter makes things even more interesting for the NHL Trade Deadline
by Tony on 02/04/10 at 02:37 PM ET
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Just a short note: Twitter is going to make things even more nuts than it usually is for the March 3rd trade deadline, the Kovalchuk derby is a perfect example. The speculation, the back-and-forth discussion, the inevitable rush to report trades first and of course, the rumors will make for a hectic couple of days. It will make things much easier, rather than having to refresh 10 different websites for updates.
But what is quickly becoming apparent is that Twitter is also exposing those who portray themselves as the all-knowing “insider”. Just watch how things unfold, such as;
The credible hockey people around the Internet tubes will report a trade, or that one is imminent. And then, watch carefully, the self-appointed “insiders” will follow up immediately with the identical information, but they’ll spin that it’s according to their sources.
Just a little something to keep an eye on as we near March 3rd.
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McPhee, Shero guests on “NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman”
by Tony on 02/04/10 at 10:57 AM ET
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From the Penguins:
Washington Capitals vice president and general manager George McPhee and Pittsburgh Penguins executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero are today’s guests on NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman on NHL.com and SIRIUS XM Radio at 6 p.m. ET.
The Capitals, who defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 Tuesday to set a franchise record with their 11th straight victory, are home to the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins on Sunday in the NHL on NBC Game of the Week beginning at noon ET. The contest reignites the rivalry between two teams who staged a memorable seven-game duel in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Semifinal and between two players—Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby—who traded hat tricks in Game 2 of that set.
As one media member put it, “The two top stars in a series dripping with talent have not only lived up to the hype, they’ve surpassed it.”
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Verizon commercial with the Penguins
by Tony on 02/03/10 at 04:00 PM ET
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Enjoy....
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The Sid-Ovie surprise, Canucks’ not-so-hard road, more notes
by Tony on 02/03/10 at 02:44 PM ET
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From SI.com’s Michael Farber:
The topic of the day, class, is which is more surprising: Sidney Crosby leading Alexander Ovechkin in goals or Ovechkin leading Crosby in assists?
(You there, in the back of the class. Stop smirking! If you are Ovie-ed out or can’t abide another word about the erstwhile Sid the Kid—gracious, he’s 22 and totally legal, so banish that Kid stuff—pack up your books and go home. They are the two most dynamic and significant players of the post-lockout generation. You couldn’t ignore Jack and Arnie if you came to golf in the 1960s or Magic, Bird and MJ if you studied basketball in the 1980s. Same deal with these guys.)
Now, where were we? Yes, are you more stunned that a brilliant playmaker like Crosby has one more goal (37, albeit in eight more games) than Ovechkin or that he has seven fewer assists than Ovechkin’s 41?
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Penguins interest in R.J. Umberger ???
by Tony on 02/03/10 at 01:36 PM ET
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Sorry for the multiple question marks, but someone linked my Jay McKee post yesterday and left out the question marks, making it sound like a “switcheroo on the blueline” was coming. As I’ve said 100 times, I am nowhere near an insider, but I’ll pass on pertinent rumors I read. From the Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline:
[struggling CBJ fan] There seems to be some concern about Umberger going to Pittsburgh. Is the source of this info strictly coming from blogs as being on Pittsburgh’s wish-list, or have you picked up on anything coming from the Jackets which would suggest that this would even be considered?
[Portzline] The Penguins want Umberger, yes. I know this from very good sources. The Blue Jackets are highly opposed to trading him, to the point where I’d say it’s highly unlikely. It would take more than people outside Columbus would imagine, because Umberger is so important to the room.
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Penguins re-assign Johnson, Letestu
by Tony on 02/02/10 at 12:24 PM ET
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From the Penguins:
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forwards Nick Johnson and Mark Letestu to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
Johnson has appeared in six games with Pittsburgh this season, posting two points (1G-1A). He made his NHL debut and scored his first career goal against Washington Jan. 21.
Letestu recorded his first career NHL goal (and point) with a score 47 seconds into Pittsburgh’s 5-4 victory over Buffalo Monday night. Letestu has also posted a plus-2 rating in five games this season for Pittsburgh.
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