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For the eleventh consecutive season the Penguins will take a run at a Stanley Cup, clinching a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres last night. Goals from Sidney Crosby, Nick Bonino, and Conor Sheary paced the Pens on the scoreboard and Matt Murray made it hold up in goal, stopping 29 of 30 shots he faced. [Pensburgh]
Even though a playoff spot is wrapped up there is still plenty for the Pens to play for in these final ten games of the regular season. Along with the Blue Jackets and Capitals the Pens are right in the mix for the Metro division title and the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference. The journey will continue on Thursday night when the Pens head to Ottawa to face the Senators.
Of course not everything is sunshine and rainbows after the win. Jake Guentzel was diagnosed with a concussion after receiving a dangerous hit from Sabres defensman Rasmus Ristolainen. [CBS Sports]
ICYMI: Our very own Mike Darnay is running a special series with a look back on the last 10 years of Penguins playoff hockey as the team is about to embark on their 11th straight post season appearance. Today’s piece will feature the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion team. The series will run (weekdays only) through next Friday, March 31. [Pensburgh]
Some player movement prior to Tuesday night’s game for the Pens. Defenseman Derrick Pouliot was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL and in return forward Oskar Sundqvist and newly acquired defenseman Frank Corrado were recalled to the big club. Corrado made his Penguins debut last night against the Sabres. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Four different head coaches have won the Stanley Cup behind the Pens bench. Which one goes down as the best coach in franchise history? [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
A new reality show focusing on the everyday lives of hockey wives will feature Catherine LaFlamme, wife of Penguins superstar blue liner Kris Letang. [WTAE]
Hard to believe less than two years ago there was serious discussion about the possibility of the Pens shipping out either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin to embark on a rebuild. Coming off a Stanley Cup, the two headed monster are both playing at the top of their game. [The Hockey Writers]
If you enjoyed the Penguins’ uniforms during the Stadium Series game then you are in luck. The team will wear the all yellow sweaters on Sunday night when they host the rival Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. They will also wear the jerseys on April 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. [Penguins]
A cancer survivor himself, Penguins owner Mario Lemieux sent support and inspiration to a young girl currently battling the disease. Lemieux sent a note and autographed puck to five year old Darran Dunlap (daughter of Pittsburgh radio host Colin Dunlap) who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year, the same cancer Mario fought during the 1992-1993 season. [Puck Daddy]
News and notes from around the NHL...
Based on what had leaked regarding the 2018 Olympics, it’s not much of a surprise to hear Gary Bettman tell the media to assume the NHL will not be sending players. [CBC]
Considered the consolation prize of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Jack Eichel is quietly becoming one of the most productive players in the NHL. [USA Today]