Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, who oversaw Cup wins, resigns

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, who oversaw Cup wins, resigns
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has resigned. The 71-year-old member of the Hockey Hall of Fame cited “personal reasons” behind the decision. Patrick Allvin will serve as the interim general manager while the club searches for a permanent replacement. Rutherford arrived in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2014 and oversaw a roster rebuild that helped the Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Guentzel’s 100th career goal lifts Penguins past Rangers 3-2

Guentzel’s 100th career goal lifts Penguins past Rangers 3-2
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Guentzel scored the 100th goal of his NHL career with less than two minutes remaining, rallying the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Guentzel’s goal at 18:29 was his second of the season. Bryan Rust also scored and Tristan Jarry made 20 saves for the Penguins. Colin Blackwell and Ryan Strome scored for the Rangers.

Guentzel’s winner lifts Penguins by Capitals 4-3 in shootout

Guentzel’s winner lifts Penguins by Capitals 4-3 in shootout
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Guentzel beat Ilya Samsonov in the fourth round of a shootout and the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Washington. Casey DeSmith stopped 20 shots in regulation then turned aside T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin in the shootout as the Penguins avoided their first 0-3 start since 2015-16. Evan Rodrigues, Colton Sceviour and Marcus Pettersson all scored their first goals of the season for Pittsburgh. Ovechkin got his 707th career goal to move within one of Hall of Famer Mike Gartner for seventh on the all-time list.

Konecny records hat trick, leads Flyers past Penguins 5-2

Konecny records hat trick, leads Flyers past Penguins 5-2
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny had his first career hat trick to lead the Philadelphia Flyers past the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. The Flyers did lose team MVP Sean Couturier to an unspecified injury. Couturier was plowed into the boards and may have hurt his left shoulder. He left after just two shifts and 45 seconds. He scored 22 goals last season and won the Selke Award as the NHL’s top defensive forward. Konecny scored the first goals of the game and another one late in the third to get the hat trick.

Flyers beat Penguins 6-3 in opener

Farabee has 4-point game, Flyers beat Penguins 6-3
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Raffl, James van Riemsdyk, Nolan Patrick and Joel Farabee all scored to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night in the first game of the NHL season. Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes scored 20 seconds apart in the third period for the Flyers. Mark Jankowski and Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins. The Penguins and Flyers play again Friday in Philly as part of a packed, 56-game schedule necessitated by the pandemic.