PensBurgh - All PostsPittsburgh Penguins blog for the five time, five time, five time, FIVE TIME Stanley Cup Championshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/29974/pensburgh_fave.png2024-03-28T07:00:00-04:00http://www.pensburgh.com/rss/current/2024-03-28T07:00:00-04:002024-03-28T07:00:00-04:00Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3/28/2024 - Lines, how to watch
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<img alt="Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-01iFqYDIPRXsrW2Chwj-aw0NyY=/0x59:3000x2059/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238263/2054045024.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Pens and Jackets meet up, with Sidney Crosby having the chance to move up the all-time scoring lists</p> <p id="dYnR4t"><strong>Who:</strong> <strong>Columbus Blue Jackets</strong> (23-37-12, 58 points, 8th place Metropolitan Division) @ <strong>Pittsburgh Penguins</strong> (31-30-10, 72 points, 7th place Metropolitan Division)</p>
<p id="dZ9YEk"><strong>When</strong>: 7 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="Pb4Rqr"><strong>How to Watch</strong>: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Ohio, streaming on ESPN+</p>
<p id="jSXdXx"><strong>Pens’ Path Ahead</strong>: The Pens see these same Blue Jackets on Saturday night that kicks off a four-game road trip that will see Pittsburgh play the Rangers (Monday), Devils (Tuesday) and Capitals (next Thursday). After that the Pens return home to play Tampa on Saturday April 6th as the season enters the last few weeks.</p>
<p id="MjfMVA"><strong>Opponent Track</strong>: Columbus enters tonight on a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) after falling 6-2 to Arizona on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets are just 1-6-2 in the last nine games (the lone win coming over a San Jose team even worse than CBJ is) but Columbus does hold victories over Edmonton and Vegas earlier in the month, so that’s something to show they occasionally can get results.</p>
<p id="mVJ272"><strong>Season Series:</strong> The “rivalry” has been as one sided as ever lately. The Pens beat the Blue Jackets 5-3 back on March 5th and took another 5-3 game back in November in Columbus. The series wraps up with the two games in the next few days. Pens PR points out that Pittsburgh has points in 11-straight games (10-0-1) against the Blue Jackets dating back to Dec. 12, 2019. Going further, Pittsburgh is 20-3-2 in its last 25 games against Columbus dating back to Feb. 3, 2017...The Pens have also won 14 straight home games against CBJ.</p>
<p id="Chqk0x"><strong>Hidden Stat</strong>: Beware the Jackets early! Per <a href="https://twitter.com/Aportzline/status/1772846299806646482">Aaron Portzline</a>, CBJ has scored the first goal in each of their last four games. However, after that initial goal, the Jackets have been out-scored by a combined 19-5 mark en route to four losses.</p>
<h3 id="VLJCBJ">Getting to know the Blue Jackets</h3>
<p id="rGlkVK"><strong>Projected lines (based on Tuesday’s game)</strong></p>
<p id="3RP6pw"><em><strong>FORWARDS</strong></em></p>
<p id="8wEn7L">Johnny Gaudreau - Boone Jenner - Alexandre Texier </p>
<p id="TWAuFJ">Michael Pyyhtia - Cole Sillinger - Kirill Marchenko </p>
<p id="yl4mxh">Dmitri Voronkov - Brendan Gaunce - Mathieu Olivier </p>
<p id="rgoqgf">James Malatesta - Tyler Angle - Carson Meyer </p>
<p id="XbDgBr"><em><strong>DEFENSEMEN</strong></em></p>
<p id="V0MTKq">Zach Werenski / Damon Severson </p>
<p id="GU97UJ">Ivan Provorov / Jake Bean </p>
<p id="e64CF0">Jake Christiansen / Erik Gudbranson </p>
<p id="SIgU36"><strong>Goalies: </strong>Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov</p>
<p id="GTe4Jn"><strong>Possible scratches: </strong>Adam Boqvist, Adam Fantilli, Alex Nylander, Yegov Chinakov, Justin Danforth, Sean Kuraly</p>
<p id="I0w3jN"><strong>IR:</strong> Kent Johnson</p>
<p id="WAIQt7"><strong>NHLPA Players Assistance Program:</strong> Patrik Laine</p>
<p id="MSYdYy">—The fourth line, and lineup in general, has heavy NHL video game created names in like year five of dynasty mode.</p>
<p id="0EkEk9">—Alex Nylander got hurt last week with a day-to-day injury and didn’t play last time out. He was already starting to show signs of tapering off (no points, -6 and only 6 SOG in prior four games) after his red hot start, it will be interesting to see if he’s able to pull the nose back up.</p>
<p id="JrqXAH">—Fantilli hasn’t played since late January after being injured. Bummer, and sadly on brand for Columbus to not have an exciting young player available for much of the season.</p>
<h3 id="pkHbSa">Player stats</h3>
<p id="hleeBo">(via <a href="https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0023302024.html"><strong>hockeydb</strong></a>)</p>
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<p id="ncQz3F">—Roslovic and Peeke were traded off at the deadline but the team didn’t lose too much. Don’t really have that much to offer anyways. </p>
<p id="YeENit">—Gaudreau’s contract still goes through 2029. Can’t feel bad for a guy with that paycheck, but man, tough go in the free agency rodeo for him in that deal. </p>
<h3 id="SDy6Yc">“The team that parity forgot”</h3>
<p id="L0UAOU">What a line that is. Portzline had an excellent feature detailing 25 years of struggles and futility that have pockmarked Columbus’ pro hockey team at every turn. It’s a fantastic read.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Athletic: The Blue Jackets are the major-league franchise that parity forgot.<br>Now, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHL</a> franchise with the lowest points percentage since they came to life in 2000-01, is at another crossroads, looking for another savior.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBJ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/SEMkrVaUfp">https://t.co/SEMkrVaUfp</a></p>— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aportzline/status/1772594428537905575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="lrUWcn"></p>
<h3 id="xXAokQ">And now for the Penguins</h3>
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<p id="Z48yo0"> </p>
<p id="Vs88Ld"><strong>Projected lines </strong></p>
<p id="uxgiAM"><em><strong>FORWARDS</strong></em></p>
<p id="vOTvy1">Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust</p>
<p id="tNYB2A">Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell</p>
<p id="KRPEpa">Reilly Smith - Lars Eller - Valtteri Puustinen</p>
<p id="2acrLh">Jonathan Gruden - Sam Poulin - Jesse Puljujarvi</p>
<p id="eHI33m"><em><strong>DEFENSEMEN</strong></em></p>
<p id="c7vDEH">P.O. Joseph / Kris Letang</p>
<p id="ztAdla">Marcus Pettersson / Erik Karlsson</p>
<p id="BKyzJa">Ryan Graves / Jack St. Ivany</p>
<p id="oyjexP"><strong>Goalies: </strong>Tristan Jarry or Alex Nedeljkovic</p>
<p id="2Ay3dd"><strong>Potential Scratches:</strong> Jeff Carter, John Ludvig, Emil Bemstrom</p>
<p id="a0305T"><strong>IR</strong>: Matt Nieto (knee surgery), Jansen Harkins (hand injury), Noel Acciari (lower body injury)</p>
<p id="jwheAV">—Smith missed practice yesterday, being the latest Penguin on new dad duty prepping for childbirth. It’s unknown if he will play tonight. Carter and Bemstrom took turns in practice in that spot of the lineup, with the rest of the team playing in the same spots as Tuesday night’s win over Carolina.</p>
<p id="7OIDGR">—Nedeljkovic has started the last two games and after making 39 saves last game out, you’d have to wonder if he’s going to play tonight and more down the stretch. Though it doesn’t seem like he’s played “a lot” a lot, Jarry ranks tied-9th in the NHL this year with 48 starts. There’s not much sense in his continued use at this point of the year, and even less given that Nedeljkovic has been sharper lately anyways.</p>
<h3 id="Q7URbH">Lookin’ for 11th</h3>
<p id="A35WZV">Sidney Crosby is red hot with seven points in the last two games. The next points will be milestone ones to catch and pass Raymond Bourque for 11th all-time in NHL scoring.</p>
<p id="O7cA5V">Crosby would need 12 more points over the season’s last 11 games to reach Phil Esposito in 10th.</p>
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<p id="Ilu0nn">Crosby is also currently at 993 assists, leaving just seven more helpers to go until he would become the 14th player in NHL history to hit 1,000.</p>
<h3 id="LQRGoh">..And also 80</h3>
<p id="6TwTtH">Pens PR also points out for us that Crosby with four more points this season gets him to the 80-point mark and in rare company in that regard.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="l9LlXK">Sidney Crosby enters tomorrow’s game just four points shy of his 13<sup>th</sup> 80-point campaign. Crosby’s 12 80-point seasons are currently tied for fifth in NHL history, and when he reaches 80 points this year, only Wayne Gretzky will have more such seasons:</p>
<p id="iYUIw5">Player 80-Point Seasons</p>
<p id="jC7KVP">Wayne Gretzky 17<br>Mark Messier 13<br>Dale Hawerchuk 13<br>Marcel Dionne 13<br>Sidney Crosby 12<br>Joe Sakic 12<br>Steve Yzerman 12</p>
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https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/28/24113508/game-preview-columbus-blue-jackets-pittsburgh-penguins-3-28-2024-lines-how-to-watchHooks Orpik2024-03-28T06:00:00-04:002024-03-28T06:00:00-04:00Pens Points: Columbus Collision
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<img alt="NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OGxLS-MC7PHKPmTn7jsH-rQz_bM=/0x13:2256x1517/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238165/usa_today_22702215.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Catch up on the latest hockey headlines in today’s Pens Points.</p> <h3 id="5Uuxpb">Here are your Pens Points for this Thursday morning...</h3>
<p id="9Bre9X">Jake Guentzel said following the <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>’ 4-1 win over the <a href="https://www.canescountry.com">Carolina Hurricanes</a> that his “intention was to stay” with the Penguins. Is what Guentzel said a big deal? Could this alter his potential future with the Penguins? [<a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/27/24113390/jake-guentzel-post-game-comments-about-wanting-to-stay-in-pittsburgh-penguins-trades">PensBurgh</a>]</p>
<p id="3nms71">The Penguins got an overtime point and beat the Hurricanes in regulation. They were on track to secure a top-10 draft pick based on their recent slide. Should they continue to lose the games they have left, the team could be on track to add what could be a major piece of their future. [<a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/27/24112512/a-look-at-how-much-a-top-10-pick-could-help-the-penguins">PensBurgh</a>]</p>
<p id="zJQSRC">Due to injury, the Penguins have seen something like a youth movement in their lineup. Defenseman Jack St. Ivany, Sam Poulin, Jonathan Gruden and others have provided the Penguins with a much-needed boost of energy down this final stretch. [<a href="https://triblive.com/sports/younger-players-provide-needed-burst-of-energy-for-penguins/">Trib Live</a>]</p>
<p id="Jkco8x">Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh in scoring by more than 20 points, but the Penguins are nowhere near a playoff spot. Has his impressive age-36 season been overshadowed by the team’s struggles? [<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/news/sidney-crosbys-continued-magic-shadowed-by-penguins-season">The Hockey News</a>]</p>
<h3 id="colfot">News and notes from around the NHL...</h3>
<p id="yOlR12">Defenseman Ethan Bear will receive care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. [<a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-ethan-bear-to-enter-nhl-nhlpa-player-assistance-program">NHL</a>]</p>
<p id="mvAk4U">Oskar Sundqvist will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. [<a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/oskar-sundqvist-injury-status-update">NHL</a>]</p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/28/24114095/pens-points-columbus-collision-penguins-guentzel-poulin-crosby-nhl-bear-capitals-sundqvist-injuryGarrett Behanna2024-03-27T14:03:20-04:002024-03-27T14:03:20-04:00Big deal, little deal, no deal: Guentzel’s post-game comments about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh
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<img alt="Carolina Hurricanes v Pittsburgh Penguins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nkhQ6pCkhbtB4r3AkXvhUrKtmH8=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73236804/2107862390.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Is what Jake Guentzel said a big deal after the game a big deal?</p> <p id="qNsqZD">Jake Guentzel met with the media after his first game back in Pittsburgh as a visitor. This was the key quote.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"My intention was to stay. They thought there was a better direction."<br><br>Jake Guentzel on being traded from the Penguins. <a href="https://t.co/lVxjEZ1ZSF">pic.twitter.com/lVxjEZ1ZSF</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1772853219925835953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="598IZw">The audio from the video:</p>
<p id="79X5Wh">“My intention was to stay. They just thought there was a better direction. It’s out of my hands. It’s not my choice.”</p>
<p id="1Iy7b7">That’s gonna make some waves. On our famous but seldom used scale: “<strong>big deal, little deal, no deal</strong>”, where do these Guentzel comments rank?</p>
<p id="og8rGB">The brutal way to look at it would be no big deal at all. The road to hell is paved with good intentions and all, words at this point don’t really matter that much when what is done has been done.</p>
<p id="8c1nF5">But that outlook is no fun, so let’s dig a little deeper.</p>
<p id="HDTo91">Guentzel’s perspective and quote matches to what Kyle Dubas has publicly said. Dubas <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/8/24094227/the-jake-guentzel-trade-is-less-about-the-return-more-about-how-penguins-got-to-this-point">had no issue </a>saying that he only initiated very limited contract extension, and nothing substantial happened on the front during the season. Even at the start of the season, there wasn’t much going on with Guentzel coming off summer ankle surgery. Here was our take Dubas’ thoughts on talking about the <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2023/10/9/23909780/dubas-talks-about-depth-and-the-start-of-the-season">Guentzel contract situation</a> from a press conference just before the regular season began.</p>
<blockquote><p id="niQylo">There is no timeline or sense of urgency on Jake Guentzel’s contract to this point, all efforts from the player and team up to this point have been focused on Guentzel’s health and getting back to 100%. Dubas left the door open to Guentzel playing tomorrow, though he wasn’t saying either way if it would happen or not right away. Dubas is open to talking with Guentzel’s agent Ben Hankinson throughout the season and cited their excellent relationship to make it sound like when it’s time to approach contract talks that the two will have that conversation </p></blockquote>
<p id="Sc4OdK">Then the season came and the Pens weren’t proactive in getting any talks going. Later, Dubas cited the need to go a different direction by getting younger and not committing a big chunk of salary cap to Guentzel in his 30’s, which given his inactivity before and during the season show where his direction was trending all along.</p>
<p id="cWE8em">Beyond that, the big deal shouldn’t be framed as who wanted what or how things went down compared to why the situation is the way it is. </p>
<p id="OAbjuC">Undoubtedly a big deal is the decision by Dubas to move on from Guentzel, which will be one call that could perhaps shape his tenure as Pittsburgh’s general manager among the most of any he makes. </p>
<p id="onyiAZ">Dubas has a seven year contract and the full faith and trust of ownership right now — but look at the stints of other recent Penguin GM’s: Ron Hextall only had two years, Jim Rutherford was here six, Ray Shero for eight. GM can be seen as a long-term job, but it isn’t always the case where a manager stays in that position a decade or longer any longer these days. Dubas himself was in the top seat in Toronto for five years. The decision about Guentzel was going to be a massive one, no matter which course he set.</p>
<p id="lKiNsD">At this point, thoughts can fracture as to what could or couldn’t have been done and whether the right or wrong call was made, but Guentzel got the chance on his way out to confirm what was already in sight during the lead up of this season - the Pens made the call about his future and chose to not make the effort to keep him around. Time will tell how it ends up working out for all parties, with the biggest deal to come about how Pittsburgh can reload in their efforts to build for the future.</p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/27/24113390/jake-guentzel-post-game-comments-about-wanting-to-stay-in-pittsburgh-penguins-tradesHooks Orpik2024-03-27T08:30:13-04:002024-03-27T08:30:13-04:00A look at how much a top-10 pick could help the Penguins
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<img alt="2021 NHL Draft - Round One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MpZEBrOO605tYTT4boP7qOFaf70=/87x0:4557x2980/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73235897/1330323805.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ryan Yorgen/NHLI via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Penguins look on track in a few months to add what could be a major piece of their future</p> <p id="Gwg6tM">The Pittsburgh Penguins are sitting in some territory for a draft pick that you can’t quite call uncharted with a long enough memory, but certainly waters that they haven’t been in recently.</p>
<p id="gHZeqs">Even following last night’s win to Jake Guentzel and the Carolina Hurricanes (still forces an “oof” doesn’t it?), the Pens bumped up to he eleventh position for 2024 draft pick, courtesy of <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/draft_order">Tankathon</a>.</p>
<p id="4rG6SP">That throws a wrench in this idea, since if Pittsburgh’s pick is 11th or higher, it goes to San Jose as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. The Penguins were tracking towards a top 10 pick prior to picking up an OT loss in Colorado and a win over Carolina.</p>
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<p id="xwGL20">As mentioned before, the revamp/rebuild/retool or whatever you want to call it in Pittsburgh could be turbo-charged by the 2024 NHL entry draft. If the aforementioned Hurricanes make the Stanley Cup Final, the pick in the 49th spot cashes up to the 31st/32nd position for the Pens, courtesy a condition of the Guentzel trade.</p>
<p id="BA8neI">That means, at best, Pittsburgh could have three selections in the first 40 or 41 picks. At “worst”, at least for the 2024 draft, the Pens would send their first rounder to SJ and only end up with two second round picks in the drft.</p>
<p id="gt9U0j">Up until now, you’ve probably noticed that today we’re operating under the assumption that Pittsburgh is keeping their 2024 first round pick, if they have that option. Due to the value of a top-10 pick, that’s a given. Even if the 2025 pick could be higher, teams don’t plan for that. You take the top-10 pick right in front of you, not dread being a worse club next year. </p>
<p id="XbJ9R2">Why is that? There are several reasons that the Pens can, should and will hold onto what is likely would probably be a pick in the 8th-10th overall range in 2024 and kick the Sharks a 2025 first round pick, if the Pens’ slump down the rest of the season puts them in position for it.</p>
<p id="PFWwxk">For starters, let’s take a look at the types of players available in the 8-10 range in recent years. </p>
<div id="GHGeFC"><div data-anthem-component="table:12289923"></div></div>
<p id="IGGfoa">It’s too soon on recent years to know just what will pan out, but the significance in the inclusion for the recent data is to point out that these players are mostly the top prospects for their respective NHL teams, and presumably have bright futures and carry a lot of value as elite prospects. At worst, keeping a top-10 picks means adding a huge name from that draft class.</p>
<p id="1KsFfS">Dropping those last two years and looking at the 18 picks for the years 2016-2021, there have been over twice as many positive results (11) than negative (5). A top-10 pick carries a ton of value, with any luck (and good scouting work) this is a place where NHL teams can be counted on to make a solid selection and add a top-of-the-lineup type of skilled player that could/should help an NHL team for a decade.</p>
<p id="RCjTy6">The other piece of good news is that top-10 NHL picks don’t take long to matriculate to the NHL when the pick is right. Usually in draft+2 or certainly by draft+3, if the player is the difference maker type of ideal and right selection, they should be in the NHL lineup and contributing on their entry level contract and at a young age.</p>
<p id="DnGKBP">The Penguins’ challenging season means a lot and has been frustrating to get through. Depending on how these last 11 games go, Pittsburgh making just their second top-10 pick since 2006 should go a long way towards stocking the team with quality youngsters that could help the next era of the team. It’s probably not the position or building that Kyle Dubas expected, and certainly not the one he wanted, but this summer will see more elite draft-age talent come into the Pens’ organization for the first time again in a long, long time.</p>
<div id="yHHLPE"><div data-anthem-component="table:12289937"></div></div>
<p id="s6MMmF">The Pens would be on their way to as many top-50 picks this year as they’ve had from 2016-23 combined, should current tracking of points hold up. The two second round picks (if Carolina doesn’t make the SCF, and Pittsburgh’s own second) will be towards the back of that, which makes the potential top-10 addition this June become the key. This time of year, if a team is out of the playoffs they win (for a better draft pick) by losing (on the ice).</p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/27/24112512/a-look-at-how-much-a-top-10-pick-could-help-the-penguinsHooks Orpik2024-03-27T06:00:00-04:002024-03-27T06:00:00-04:00Pens Points: Storm Weathered
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<img alt="Carolina Hurricanes v Pittsburgh Penguins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aTAsKe9hf4TAGZkqpVARrTK2jog=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73235669/2107864054.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Penguins spoil Guentzel’s return and Pens Points has all the details.</p> <p id="ZNazDl">Just two days after blowing a 4-0 lead in Colorado, the <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> bounced back to secure a 4-1 victory over the <a href="https://www.canescountry.com">Carolina Hurricanes</a> in Jake Guentzel’s return to Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby picked up where he left off from Sunday with three points and Bryan Rust netted his third game winning goal of the season to see the Penguins through. [<a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/26/24108620/penguins-hurricanes-recap-pens-grind-out-a-win-in-guentzels-return-to-pittsburgh">Pensburgh</a>]</p>
<h2 id="QK5GJg">Pens Points...</h2>
<p id="AG3YLL">With Noel Acciari heading back to injured reserve, the long awaited callup of Sam Poulin has arrived. Despite battling injury himself, Poulin has posted 27 points in 36 AHL games this season, including 13 goals. [<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-recall-prospect-sam-poulin-nhl">The Hockey News</a>]</p>
<p id="JPXuwE">There’s nothing left to lose for the Penguins this season so regardless of how he plays, Poulin has to be in the lineup the rest of the way to be fully evaluated at the NHL level. [<a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/26/24112465/sam-poulin-needs-to-get-a-real-look">Pensburgh</a>]</p>
<p id="gerr6W">Last season, Poulin received his first taste of NHL action, but a lot has changed for him since the last time he suited up for an NHL game and he believes he’s better off as a player and a person since battling through struggles. [<a href="https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/sam-poulin-has-come-a-long-way-since-last-year">Penguins</a>]</p>
<p id="LsaTey">Any time a former player returns to suit up against his old teams emotions tend to run high, but that feeling was multiplied with the return of Jake Guentzel given how beloved he was among the his teammates and the fan base. [<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-react-jake-guentzel-first-return">The Hockey News</a>]</p>
<p id="VrYexg">If the Penguins are lucky enough for their first round pick to be in the Top 10 of the upcoming <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-draft">NHL Draft</a>, they will be able to hold onto it and send next season’s instead due to pick protections from the Erik Karlsson trade. [<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/news/penguins-dubas-faced-with-potential-vexing-decision-after-nightmare-season">The Hockey News</a>]</p>
<h2 id="DMKxu5">NHL News and Notes...</h2>
<p id="1N9PRk">Some good news on the injury and coaching front for the slumping Winnipeg Jets. Star winger Gabe Vilardi and head coach Rick Bowness both returned to practice on Tuesday after their respective absences. [<a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/jets-bowness-vilardi-return-to-practice/">Sportsnet</a>]</p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/27/24112291/pens-points-penguins-hurricanes-poulin-guentzel-crosby-rust-acciari-karlsson-nhl-draftrjnaugle22024-03-26T21:46:02-04:002024-03-26T21:46:02-04:00Penguins/Hurricanes Recap: Pens grind out a win in Guentzel’s return to Pittsburgh
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<img alt="Carolina Hurricanes v Pittsburgh Penguins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pe1alUuHno-u-C9HbfOtKGS5oRE=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73235361/2107862580.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Pens hang tough and claw out a 4-1 win over Carolina</p> <h3 id="f0g50B">Pregame</h3>
<p id="Aov5VH">It’s about that time heading down the stretch to see as many new faces as possible. Sam Poulin is up from Wilkes for the first time this year now that Noel Acciari has been iced away on LTIR. Jonathan Gruden continues his never-ending yo-yo from NHL-AHL by getting back in the NHL lineup at the expense of Emil Bemstrom. Ryan Graves is back, which bumps John Ludvig and means a jersey for Jack St. Ivany.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lined up and ready to battle the elements. <a href="https://t.co/UuRdIUeO1E">pic.twitter.com/UuRdIUeO1E</a></p>— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1772758769711099907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="Viz0jp">The Carolina Hurricanes come into town boasting a familiar name at the top of their left wings.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Fishy and his school <a href="https://t.co/HzOXa8QXiR">pic.twitter.com/HzOXa8QXiR</a></p>— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1772757190706635136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="keQEWr">First period</h3>
<p id="xZhyMD">A scoreless first passes by, Jake Guentzel’s welcome back video is more exciting than watching the Penguins’ inept power play get two cracks at Carolina’s second ranked PK.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Forever a Stanley Cup Champion and Penguins legend.<br><br>Thanks for the memories, Jake. Stay cool. Never change. <a href="https://t.co/bmTEL4zsmp">pic.twitter.com/bmTEL4zsmp</a></p>— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1772767330373660870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="ScSVri">Shots are 9-8 in favor of the ‘Canes through 20.</p>
<h3 id="dqni06">Second period</h3>
<p id="UuZlPp">Graves uses his new dad strength to shove Andrei Svechnikov off the puck and make a center lane drive (it’s not the typical goal, but it’s something..). Jesse Puljujarvi takes advantage of the extra space to fire in a shot from the right side. 1-0 Pens to open the scoring.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A big goal, a bigger smile <a href="https://t.co/0YOMGgtnNB">pic.twitter.com/0YOMGgtnNB</a></p>— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1772780238092509222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="EDpZpJ">Carolina is able to answer later on. Marcus Pettersson goes down in a heap (luckily seeming to avoid an injury to his arm) and the Pens’ structure breaks down in their own end. The puck pops out to the other side to Dmitri Orlov and he fires a hard shot in. 1-1 game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The only time we like a traffic jam <a href="https://t.co/WLFKiydNhL">pic.twitter.com/WLFKiydNhL</a></p>— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1772782883339424143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="qCA6zW">Pittsburgh gets their lead back late. Sidney Crosby wins an offensive zone draw clean and Bryan Rust was lined up on the left to take advantage of his right hand shot seeing a lot of net from that side of the ice. 2-1 to put the Pens back in front.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fun fact: Bryan Rust has seven goals (7G-3A) over his last ten games <a href="https://t.co/KCsFXRhJya">pic.twitter.com/KCsFXRhJya</a></p>— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1772787025114022026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="38QbUA">Pretty choppy period where Carolina had the puck for much of it. It was difficult for the Penguins to generate a lot of opportunities to put shots on goal, they only had five in the period but two went in.</p>
<h3 id="RvYKEp">Third period</h3>
<p id="OkvLRw">Jonathan Gruden drilled a Hurricane cleanly and that angered Stefan Noesen for a quick fight.</p>
<p id="ZER9Ru">Evgeni Malkin off to the box when Brady Skjei leaned back and fell down in the corner gives Carolina another crack on the power play, but the Penguins kill it off.</p>
<p id="eQnMfi">Carolina pulls the goalie somewhat early with 2:45 to play and them piling on the offense anyways. Drew O’Connor gets on his horse and races down a loose puck to put away in the empty net. 3-1.</p>
<p id="rJiezH">The Hurricanes leave the goalie out, ‘cuz hey, why not. Crosby takes advantage of the gift to put his 35th goal of the year into the unguarded cage. 4-1.</p>
<h3 id="DXMvz6">Some thoughts</h3>
<ul>
<li id="766nTi">Puljujarvi is showing more signs of life than he ever has before as a Penguin, now with a goal in the last two games. Modest start but after being a presumably healthy scratch for much of the month it’s nice for him to get some traction and start to become an automatic part of the lineup down the stretch.</li>
<li id="qI4jnL">Another great sign for Puljujarvi: in crunch time in the third period he took Puustinen’s place on the third line and was throwing his body around in the defensive zone. Shows he’s gaining some trust, and not only that but stepping up in the extra looks too.</li>
<li id="YQ3yh2">It always sucks to see anyone get hurt and for the world it looked like Pettersson suffered some kind of injury in his fall arm first into an opponent. Luckily he shook it off and kept playing, at this point in the year it’s unnecessary and sad to see injuries pile up, but thankfully it looks like that wasn’t the case here.</li>
<li id="vC2yJp">Thought Rickard Rakell rebounded with a nice finish to the game in the third period, but he was standing out as playing terribly early on. Was going over the line needlessly to cause power play offsides, having trouble controlling the puck and receiving passes, looked like he was fighting the game big time early on.</li>
<li id="LqtbjR">Crosby got three points, which at this case is on of the best parts of tuning in for the year to watch his trek towards tying the Wayne Gretzky point/game in every season stat. Crosby’s up to 76 points in 71 games. Between tonight and that four point game in Colorado is coming in clutch to keep him in great shape for it at this point.</li>
<li id="61hQTa">For only being NHL game no. 3, it was a quietly nice night from John St. Ivany. The comparison isn’t completely parallel since he’s lankier and a right shot, but St. Ivany has some Rob Scuderi in his game in the defensive zone when it comes to using his stick to break up plays and general awareness around the puck. It’s early yet but there’s a certain no-frills type steadiness there, time will tell if the consistency is too.</li>
<li id="I3MgDO">Poulin’s first game of the season was OK. He played 9:11 from the fourth line, no shot attempts, one hit and two blocked shots. Did lose all but one of eight faceoffs that he took, which will be interesting to see if his path in the NHL remains as a center in the longer term.</li>
<li id="Om4XTj">Guentzel and the Canes’ first line in general were dangerous but absent from the scoring sheet. Jake had 6 SOG (and 9 total attempts) in his return to Pittsburgh and a couple of really nice setups too.</li>
<li id="jEaAQR">Carolina always keeps the goalie busy with their high-intensity pressure game and volume shooting. Nedeljkovic had a great night making 39 saves. He had to battle for it, even using his head to make a stop in the late-game scramble. </li>
</ul>
<p id="f29nSz">It’s a shame at this point this win doesn’t mean anything, quality game for the Pens to hang right in there with a quality team, not have any costly breakdowns or mistakes and pull out the victory. Too little, too late by now but this game should help build the confidence as they gear up for a home-and-home with Columbus coming up.</p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/26/24108620/penguins-hurricanes-recap-pens-grind-out-a-win-in-guentzels-return-to-pittsburghHooks Orpik2024-03-26T18:30:00-04:002024-03-26T18:30:00-04:00Gamethread: Hurricanes @ Penguins
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<img alt="Carolina Hurricanes v Pittsburgh Penguins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Odg_UYagyY1rZ5ABFXWNYW3nrSs=/0x17:3000x2017/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73235105/1890385599.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Jake Guentzel returns to Pittsburgh</p> <p id="LgqEdV">Talk about the game with Pens fans here!</p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/26/24105093/gamethread-hurricanes-penguinsHooks Orpik2024-03-26T11:06:00-04:002024-03-26T11:06:00-04:00Sam Poulin needs to get a real look
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<figcaption>Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Who cares how many mistakes he makes? Find out what he can and can not do. </p> <p id="S1IPpp">It is a well established fact at this point that the <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> do not have a particularly deep farm system. Or even a good farm system. In fact, it is a pretty bad farm system. But the one player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that might have something of a future in the NHL is 2019 first-round pick Sam Poulin, and <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1772624349498945650">he is getting a call up to the big club</a> following an injury to Noel Acciari.</p>
<p id="phz1Kg">You know what?</p>
<p id="gkkW8S">It’s time to find out about him. </p>
<p id="5hJDq9">He is 23 years old, he is not really a true “prospect” anymore (more of a suspect, I’d say), has produced reasonably well in the AHL this season and the Penguins, for all intents and purposes, have nothing else to play for this season.</p>
<p id="8qLDHi">I know they are not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but realistically speaking they are and everybody knows it. I know it. You know it. The coach seems to know it. The players probably absolutely know it. </p>
<p id="SOqVNo">So let’s find out about some people. Let’s find out about Sam Poulin.</p>
<p id="6Y9rM4">He got a brief three-game cup of coffee in the NHL a year and played nine minutes per game. That’s not good enough. Other young players on the roster this season under head coach Mike Sullivan have been given laughably short leashes and get stapled to the bench as soon as they make a mistake. That can’t happen here. </p>
<p id="CwQh6g">Let him play. </p>
<p id="r1fWBW">I don’t want to see him be a healthy scratch.</p>
<p id="6psJbM">Do not put him on the bench for a turnover or blown coverage in the defensive zone.</p>
<p id="v1gdcw">I don’t care if he doesn’t score a single goal.</p>
<p id="8UyyVv">Give him 15 minutes a night, turn him loose, and see what he can do. </p>
<p id="WR0PvY">What is the worst that happens? He doesn’t score and is responsible for some goals against? My friends, we are already there with everybody else on the roster. </p>
<p id="9e2Ls7">Adding to the incentive to find out about him is the fact he is a restricted free agent after this season. You have to decide if he is worth tendering a contract to or re-signing, or if you just move on. You are not going to get a better chance than right now.</p>
<p id="j3sFWF">You have 12 games remaining, your team is playing for nothing, and he is one of the few reasonably young players in the organization that might be able to be a part of this team in the mid-range future. Play him. Play him a lot. </p>
<p id="XBDKqr">I have nothing else to add here other than play him.</p>
<p id="VQlaBc"></p>
https://www.pensburgh.com/2024/3/26/24112465/sam-poulin-needs-to-get-a-real-lookGretz