Pens Points: It Doesn’t Have to be Pretty

Later this evening the Penguins have the chance to take another step towards the franchise’s 5th championship when they host the Predators for Game 2 of their Stanley Cup Final series. A stolen victory in Game 1 has the Pens up 1-0 in the series and chance to hold serve on home ice with another victory tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on NBCSN.

Monday night was not a pretty performance from the Pens and they know they stole a victory in Game 1 over the Predators. A lot about this playoffs hasn’t been pretty for the Penguins but they still manage to get the job done. [NBC Sports]

For the first time since undergoing neck surgery to repair a herniated disc, defenseman Kris Letang sat down with the media on Tuesday afternoon and gave an update on his recovery process. [Trib Live]

Just because he is out of the lineup doesn’t mean Letang is playing any less of a role with the team. Relegated to the press box, Letang has been with the team throughout the entire playoffs and has turned into their biggest cheerleader. [Times Online]

Whether it sparked the Predators’ rally or not, a catfish found its way on to the ice surface at PPG Paints Arena during Game 1. Our friend Sean Gentille caught up with the self proclaimed “redneck” after the fact to learn how he pulled off his now infamous toss. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

If you’re nearby, there will be a fan rally prior to Game 2 to be hosted at Market Square in downtown. Festivities will kick off at 11:30 AM and will be free and open to the public. [WPXI]

Penguins’ general manager put the NHL on blast Monday morning for the league’s treatment of its star players. During his annual Stanley Cup press conference, league commissioner Gary Bettman seemed perturbed by Rutherford’s criticism. [Trib Live]

Coming off a Stanley Cup championship in his rookie season, Conor Sheary started off the 2016-2017 on fire. Once the calendar turned to 2017 the young forward faced adversity for the first time in the NHL. With that behind him, Sheary looks to be finding his game at the exact right time. [Penguins]

Sheary wasn’t the only Penguins’ forward to bust out of a slump in Game 1. Although he did it in a less conventional way, Nick Bonino recorded two goals on Monday night and appears to be finding his stride just in the nick of time. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

News and notes from around the NHL...

During a press conference on Tuesday, Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan seemed open to the idea of trading superstar goal scorer Alex Ovechkin if the right deal came along. [Sporting News]

At his annual press conference on Monday, Gary Bettman announced the NHL’s plans to host outdoor games at the nation’s military academies. The first game in this series will take place next season at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The Washington Capitals will play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3, 2018. [ESPN]