With eight days left in the regular season the Penguins have a packed schedule yet to play. The final stretch began on Sunday evening with the Carolina Hurricanes in town for the final meeting of the season between the two sides. It was another banner day for the young guns as goals by Jake Guentzel, Scott Wilson, and Connor Sheary kept the Pens in front for a majority of the game on route to a 3-2 victory. [Pensburgh]
With the victory in combination with the Capitals victory of the Blue Jackets, the Pens jump to second place in the Metro division ahead of Columbus. The Pens and Blue Jackets square off on Tuesday night in what appears to be a playoff preview.
In the final year of his contract forward Chris Kunitz may have played his last game in a Penguins’ uniform after head coach Mike Sullivan announced Kunitz’s lower body injury looks to be long term. [Trib Live]
As a result of the Kunitz injury the Pens recalled forward Josh Archibald from the AHL. [Penguins]
Even when the chips are down Mike Sullivan remains steady as ever behind the Pens bench. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Having the stall next to captain Sidney Crosby would seem like the best seat in the house, especially in you’re a younger guy learning the ropes like Jake Gunetzel this season. Guentzel quickly found out that sitting next to Crosby came with its own set of challenges. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Goaltending has been a focal point all season for the Pens and at time people worried if having both Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury on the roster would lead to a controversy between the pipes. While Murray has firmly established himself as the No. 1 on the roster, the rotation between the two has paid off. [Trib Live]
April Fools Day was on Saturday and with a prankster like Fleury on the team the Pens were on edge waiting for him to strike. [Penguins]
When the regular season ends and the playoffs begin anything can truly happen. To win the Stanley Cup teams need a mixture of skill and luck. Though history may say otherwise, beginning next week the Pens will look to repeat as champs. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
News and notes from around the NHL...
A final decision on NHL participation in the 2018 Olympics could come as early as next week before the playoffs begin. [NBC Sports]
Scary situation in Philadelphia on Saturday during a game between the Flyers and Devils. During a break in play, Flyers’ goaltender Michal Neuvirth collapsed to the ice and had to be taken off on a stretcher. [Puck Daddy]