Pens Points: Ranger Rematch

Here are your Pens Points for this Thursday morning...

Ron Hextall has been in charge of the Pittsburgh Penguins for two months now. And many who became accustomed to former GM Jim Rutherford’s tendencies are still getting used to the much more methodical, slow burn approach that Hextall takes. After his team allowed a combined 15 goals in their last two contests alone, Hextall believes his team is still in good shape, and will not overreact to such a small bump in the road. [Trib Live]

Longtime ESPN hockey analyst, John Buccigross, has returned to his native Pittsburgh for the annual Frozen Four completion being held at PPG Paints Arena. [Post-Gazette]

While the Penguins’ defense has not looked sharp over the last handful of games, the team still holds the blueprint to fix their blue line miscues. [Post-Gazette]

For the first time since March 16, Evgeni Malkin took to the ice yesterday, as the 35-year-old center continues to rehab from a lower-body injury he suffered almost one month ago. [Penguins]

News and notes from around the NHL...

Washington Capitals goalie Henrik Lundqvist has no intentions of retiring anytime soon. The future Hall of Fame Swede says he hopes to resume playing in the NHL after recovering from open-heart surgery, but his future will depend on his next examination later this month. [NHL]

The Chicago Blackhawks have officially purchased their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, from the city of Rockford, Illinois. The Hawks are now the twenty-first team in the league to own their AHL counterpart. [WIFR News]

The New York Islanders have acquired both Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Isles’ 2021 first-round pick, among other pieces. [Lighthouse Hockey]