Penguins win 10-2, hand Sharks record-tying 11th straight loss to start season
Reilly Smith and Jake Guentzel each had two goals and two assists, Evgeni Malkin also scored twice, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat San Jose 10-2, handing the Sharks their NHL record-tying 11th straight loss to start the season and second straight while allowing 10 goals.
Pens chase Shesterkin again, topple Rangers 7-2 for 3-1 lead
Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to become the sixth player in NHL history to reach 200 career playoff points and the Pittsburgh Penguins throttled the New York Rangers 7-2 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Hurricanes edge Pens 4-3 to take lead in tight Metropolitan
Jesper Fast scored 9 seconds into the third period to break a tie, Sebastian Aho followed with his 22nd goal of the season and the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Sunday to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division.
AP sources: Eichel switching agents amid dispute with Sabres
Four people with direct knowledge of the playerโs decision have told The Associated Press that Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel is changing agents while in the midst of a long-standing dispute with the team over how to treat a neck injury.
The Latest: Boston's Charlie Coyle enters NHL COVID protocol
Coyle becomes just the second Bruinsโ player added to the protocol, and first since Karson Kuhlman spent the first two days of the season on the list in January. Each person attending the games will be required to comply with all state public health regulations and arena policies. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday that Virginia Tech's men's basketball game at North Carolina State on Saturday has been canceled. The cancellation follows quarantining and a contract tracing review within the Virginia Tech menโs program. NC State says it would like to find another league game to replace it if they can.
Kapanen scores twice; Pens welcome back fans with 5-2 win
Kapanen scored two goals and the Penguins defeated the Flyers 5-2 on Tuesday night. Penguinsโ players raised their sticks and saluted the fans in attendance following the win. Following a scoreless first period, Farabee and Kapanen scored 1:07 apart to open the second period. The Flyers will welcome fans back to the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday against Washington. The Penguins scored three goals and outshot the Flyers 13-3 to start the second period.
The Latest: NBA's Hornets ready to welcome fans again
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, passes the ball over Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo, second from right, as Hornets forward P.J. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Charlotte Hornets are getting set to welcome fans for home games. The Hornetsโ reopening plan has been approved by state and county authorities and allows the team to host fans at 15% capacity, approximately 3,000 per game. โWe are excited about the opportunity to welcome more fans to our outdoor venues,โ the university said in a written statement. AdTuesday nightโs game will be the first game with fans in attendance at PPG Paints Arena since last March.
Crosby plays 1,000th game as Penguins top Islanders 3-2
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)PITTSBURGH โ Sidney Crosby had two assists in his 1,000th NHL game, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday night. Nelson gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with his fifth goal just 53 seconds into the third period, but the Penguins responded. Crosby became the 25th active skater to play in his 1,000th game. Crosby entered his 1,000th game with the eighth-most points in NHL history through 1,000 games. 87 jersey to recognize their captain before his 1,000th NHL game.
'Insatiable' Crosby hungry as ever as 1,000th game arrives
On the eve of his franchise-record 1000th regular season game, the superstar looks just as dangerous as ever, with no end in sight. Crosby will cross another milestone Saturday night when he becomes the first Penguin to play in 1,000 regular-season games. AdโHeโs not ready to relinquish the best player in the game attribute or that heโs carried here for a decade-plus,โ Sullivan said. The idea of Crosby playing with regularity again โ let alone getting to 1,000 games โ seemed improbable at best. AdStill, despite the constant setbacks, Crosby remained committed to both the short game and the long one.
Penguins warily carry on after GM Rutherford's abrupt exit
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) gets a shot past Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) for an overtime goal in an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. More than 15 years in the NHL has taught the Pittsburgh Penguins longtime captain that it's simply part of the business. Having the architect who put together a roster that led the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups resign without warning is another. AdโI think thereโs some great people here that will continue to do good work,โ Crosby said. Crosby arrived with the top pick in the 2005 draft, and Allvin joined the Penguins as a scout in 2006.
The Latest: Wizards-Bucks game postponed
That can mean a positive COVID-19 test, an inconclusive test or potential exposure to someone who tested positive. He was pulled at halftime of Memphisโ game against Brooklyn on Jan. 8 but played the Grizzliesโ next game Jan. 11 against Cleveland. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference announced that Saturday's Pittsburgh-Boston College menโs basketball game has been postponed. The conference also said Pittsburgh's men's game at Wake Forest scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 7, will move to this Saturday evening. ___Georgetownโs menโs basketball game at Xavier scheduled for next week has been postponed because of a coronavirus-related issue in the Hoyasโ program.
Guentzel's winner lifts Penguins by Capitals 4-3 in shootout
DeSmith figured Ovechkin would try to fire one past him rather than deke his way to the net. DeSmith stayed upright as Ovechkin closed in and felt the familiar smack of rubber hitting him and not the net. โI thought our guys played hard in the second and third against a really good team,โ Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. While Sullivan remains confident Jarry will be fine, he turned to DeSmith to help get Pittsburgh going. Washington went 1 for 4 on the power play, a tap-in goal by Backstrom in the second that gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead.
Farabee has 4-point game, Flyers beat Penguins 6-3
Philadelphia Flyers' James van Riemsdyk celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Philadelphia. With Gritty thrusting his bulbous belly from his sofa, the Flyers turned Patrick and Lindblom's homecoming into a meaningful victory. Jankowski, who scored just five goals last season, scored the first one of this season 5:12 into the game. Farabee had assists on van Riemsdyk, Patrick and Hayesโ goals. UP NEXTThe Penguins and Flyers play again Friday in Philly as part of a packed, 56-game schedule necessitated by the pandemic.
NHL training camps open with sense of urgency
It was the first day of training camp for Laviolette and the Washington Capitals and most of the NHL. Camps are now open for the league's 31 teams and they will last just 10 days. โYou get a fresh start,โ said Jeff Skinner of the Buffalo Sabres, who haven't played a game since March. โMost players would argue that camps are a little bit long anyway," Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. โIโve been told from our team and from the league, when a player is not on the ice during training camp, weโre supposed to say heโs not available today,โ Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said.
Longtime Bruins captain Zdeno Chara leaves for Capitals
Longtime Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara signed with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, a stunning move less than a week before most NHL teams open training camp. The Bruins haven't opened camp without Chara since 2005, the first season after a yearlong lockout. โThe Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players, and I respect their decision,โ Chara posted on Instagram. โI'm proud that we were able to return the Stanley Cup to Boston,โ Chara said in his post thanking the Bruins and their fans. Instead, Chara and the Capitals will face the Bruins eight times in the realigned East Division after the season opens Jan. 13.
NY Rangers select Lafreniere with No. 1 pick in NHL draft
The New York Rangers selected Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday night. Lafreniere joins a young, developing Rangers team that features one of his favorite players, Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin. 1 pick for the first time since the NHL established the universal draft in 1969. They became the first NHL team to select first following a postseason appearance since the then-Minnesota North Stars in 1983, who acquired the No.
Rangers have work to do despite having top pick in NHL draft
1 pick in the NHL draft while also coming off an appearance in the expanded 24-team playoffs. The Rangers only made the playoffs because the NHL expanded the format to 24, rather than 16 teams. 1 pick is going to be a very good hockey player, thereโs no question, maybe even a great player, hopefully. โTo be maybe having the chance to play with him, it would be an honor,โ Lafreniere said. General managers are bracing for a hectic weekend with numerous teams having to shed payroll this offseason with the NHL salary cap staying at $81.5 million.
Familiarity breeds respect among NHL East playoff teams
TORONTO, ONT Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper took exception to the Columbus Blue Jackets being referred to as a blue-collar team. Is that a positive or a negative? Cooper said Monday, a day before his Eastern Conference second-seeded Lightning open the first round of the NHL playoffs against the seventh-seeded Blue Jackets. Thats in the history books forever, Cooper said, noting how both teams have made various changes to their lineups. Id call them a really good team.Familiarity is breeding respect among the East opponents entering the first round. The Islanders hold a 5-2 playoff series edge over Washington.
2016 World Cup of Hockey provides lessons for NHL restart
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2016 file photo, Canada's Sidney Crosby hoists the trophy following his team's victory over Europe in the World Cup of Hockey finals, in Toronto. The closest comparison to the NHL's summer restart is the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. You kind of have a short, abbreviated training camp and then youre right into it. It was early September 2016, and the Pittsburgh Penguins captain stepped on the ice in Ottawa for Canadas training camp ahead of the World Cup of Hockey. New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz, who was an assistant when Canada won the World Cup, considers that tournament the closest comparison because he anticipates the same frantic shifts of momentum.
Penguins star Crosby misses practice with undisclosed issue
PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby did not practice on Sunday, a day after leaving a team scrimmage with an undisclosed health issue. The team captain and two-time NHL MVP scored during an organized scrimmage on Saturday. Youre trying the wrong guy, Recchi said. Sorry about that.Crosby, playing alongside Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary, scored a goal for the black team during a 7-0 romp over the white team. The Penguins are about two weeks out from facing Montreal in the qualifying round of the 24-team NHL postseason.
Iginla headlines 2020 Hall class as 4th Black player elected
Iginla, the first Black player to lead the NHL in points and goals and to win an Olympic gold medal, is expected to headline the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2020 induction class, to be announced Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)Jarome Iginla headlines the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2020 after being elected Wednesday in his first year of eligibility. Iginla will be the fourth Black player inducted after Grant Fuhr, women's hockey pioneer Angela James and Willie ORee. Iginla and Fuhr are the only Black NHL players enshrined for their on-ice accomplishments, while O'Ree was chosen in the builder category in 2018 for breaking the league's color barrier 60 years earlier. He also won the Canadian junior Memorial Cup twice and world juniors, world championship and World Cup of Hockey once each.
NHL players not rushing back to rinks for voluntary skates
NHL players could start participating in voluntary small-group workouts, and teams began opening their training facilities Monday. Players learned Thursday training camps can open July 10, pending an agreement on returning to play later this summer. Now, the players are expected to trickle back in preparation of the resumption of the season. Players started skating by the handful this week in places like Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Edmonton, while some teams waited to open their doors. Veteran Nashville general manager David Poile said that while almost a dozen players remained in the area, the NHL has instructed teams not to ask or encourage players to show up because this stage is voluntary.
Penguins star Sidney Crosby out 6 weeks after core surgery
PITTSBURGH, PA โ Penguins star Sidney Crosby will be out at least six weeks after what the team said was a successful core muscle injury repair Thursday. General manager Jim Rutherford says the procedure was performed by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. The 32-year-old Crosby leads the team in scoring with five goals and 12 assists in 17 games despite dealing with a sports hernia since training camp. The two-time MVP left a 3-2 shootout win over Chicago on Nov. 9 in the third period. He got tangled up with Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson and moments later took a shot from Gustafsson that smacked off his right foot.