Category: NHL

Phil Bourque Previews Penguins’ Season Opener On A.M. Beaver County

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This team is built to win right now.”

That “team” is the Pittsburgh Penguins, who open their 2022-23 regular season against the Arizona Coyotes at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. The Penguins Penguins Radio network color analyst Phil Bourque joined Matt Drzik on the morning of the game (October 13) to discuss the upcoming season for the Penguins, who signed Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang to extended contracts during the past offseason.

“They need to pay ownership and management back for bringing the team back together again,” Bourque said, “Because a lot of people thought ‘There’s no way we can bring Tanger AND Geno back’, and they found a way to do that.” The return of Malkin and Letang with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby marks the 17th consecutive season of the trio playing together–tying the North American sports record.

Penguins management added several new faces to the lineup in the offseason, including Ty Smith, Jan Rutta, and Ryan Poehling…but the one new face that Bourque sees having the biggest impact is defenseman Jeff Petry. “Jeff Petry is a guy that I think will lighten the load for Kris Letang, as far as what’s expected for a defenseman for driving some offense,” Bourque stated. “The one thing we were kinda lacking was jam, some toughness on the backside. That’s why I think they moved Mike Matheson and John Marino, and brought in Jan Rutta and also Jeff Petry.”

As far as the matchup against the Coyotes, Bourque favors the Penguins on paper, but the Stanley Cup Champion knows the dangers of overlooking an opponent: “If you’re peeking a little bit towards your next opponent, which is against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night, you’re gonna get punched in the nose in your home opener against Arizona.” Bourque suggests that in order for the Penguins to win tonight, is to “have a great start, get the fans into it, get the lead, and then just pile on.”

Coverage for the Penguins’ game against Arizona on Beaver County Radio begins with pregame at 6:30 PM, and then Phil Bourque will join play-by-play man Josh Getzoff with the call of puck drop at 7:00 PM.

To listen to the full conversation with Phil, hit the play button below!

Panarin lifts Rangers past Penguins 4-3 in OT in Game 7

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
By VIN A. CHERWOO AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Artemi Panarin scored a power-play goal 4:46 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists and Chris Kreider and K’Andre Miller also scored for New York which got its third straight comeback win after trailing 3-1 in the series. Andrew Copp had two assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 42 shots. Evan Rodrigues had a goal and an assist and Jake Guentzel and Danton Heinen also scored for the Penguins, who were ousted in the first playoff series for the fourth straight year.

Penguins’ Sidney Crosby ruled out of Game 6 against Rangers

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will not play in Game 6 against the New York Rangers. Coach Mike Sullivan ruled out Crosby following the team’s morning skate. Sullivan said Crosby was on the ice earlier with skating and skills development coach Ty Hennes. Crosby departed after a hit from New York’s Jacob Trouba in Game 5 on Wednesday and did not return. The team has said only that Crosby has an upper-body injury. Pittsburgh is 2-0 in the only two playoff games it has played without Crosby since he entered the NHL. The Penguins lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

 

Crosby Leaves in 2nd Period of Penguins’ 5-3 Loss in Game 5

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
By VIN A. CHERWOO AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins were leading 2-0 in Game 5 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers when star center Sidney Crosby headed to the dressing room with about seven minutes left in the second period. He was knocked to the ice minutes earlier after a hard high hit from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba while the Penguins had the puck in the offensive zone. Following his departure, New York scored three times on three consecutive shots over a 2:42 span to take the lead. They scored two more in the third period to win 5-3 and send the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 with the Penguins lead 3-2.

Pens Chase Shesterkin Again, Topple Rangers 7-2 for 3-1 Series Lead

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
BY WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — 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. Jake Guentzel scored for the fourth consecutive game and Jeff Carter, Danton Heinen, Mark Friedman and Mike Matheson also beat Igor Shesterkin as the Penguins chased the Vezina Trophy favorite for the second time in three days to move within one game of advancing in the postseason for the first time since 2018. Shesterkin sat out the third period after giving up six goals on 30 shots.

Panarin, Vatrano help Rangers beat Penguins 5-2 in Game 2

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
By VIN A. CHERWOO AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and two assists and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the best-of-seven first-round series. Chris Kreider, Andrew Copp and Ryan Strome also scored for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin made 39 saves two nights after stopping 79 shots in a triple-overtime loss in Game 1. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Jake Guentzel also scored for the Penguins. Louis Domingue, getting the start after replacing the injured Casey DeSmith in the second overtime of Game 1, finished with 34 saves. Game 3 is Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

By VIN A. CHERWOO AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and two assists and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the best-of-seven first-round series. Chris Kreider, Andrew Copp and Ryan Strome also scored for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin made 39 saves two nights after stopping 79 shots in a triple-overtime loss in Game 1. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Jake Guentzel also scored for the Penguins. Louis Domingue, getting the start after replacing the injured Casey DeSmith in the second overtime of Game 1, finished with 34 saves. Game 3 is Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

Malkin Deflects Puck in During Third Overtime for Pens Victory in Game One Over the Rangers

(File Photo of Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87), center Evgeni Malkin (71) and defenseman Kris Letang (58) react after losing to the Montreal Canadiens in an NHL hockey playoff game Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored on a deflection 5:58 into the third overtime, giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round series. Jake Guentzel scored twice and Bryan Rust had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby also had two assists. Casey DeSmith had 48 saves before leaving midway through the second overtime. Louis Domingue came on and had 17 saves. Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist, and Adam Fox and Andrew Copp also scored for the Rangers. Mika Zibanejad had two assists. Igor Shesterkin finished with 79 saves. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in New York.

McDavid Outshines Crosby as Oilers Surge Past Penguins 5-1

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Connor McDavid had a goal and three assists to outduel Sidney Crosby, and the surging Edmonton Oilers rolled past the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. McDavid pushed his season point total to an NHL-best 122 by finishing off his 22nd career four-point game with a pretty shot from a tight angle in the third period. His 44th goal gave the Oilers a three-goal lead. Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman and Zack Kassian also scored for Edmonton. Crosby had five shots on goal but didn’t record a point as the Penguins lost their second straight.

DeSmith has 52 Saves, Guentzel Scores 3, Penguins top Bruins

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Casey DeSmith made a career-high 52 saves and Jake Guentzel scored three goals as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Boston Bruins 4-0. Guentzel completed the hat trick with an empty-netter, his 40th goal of the season. Pittsburgh moved two points ahead of Washington for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins, Bruins and Capitals have already secured playoff spots but are fighting for seeding in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh and Boston are knotted at 99 points apiece. Jason Zucker also scored for the Penguins. Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves for the Bruins, who have lost five of eight.

Palmieri Scores in Shootout, Islanders Beat Penguins 5-4

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
By SCOTT CHARLES Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Zach Parise and Josh Bailey each scored twice, and Kyle Palmieri had the lone goal in the shootout as the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4. Ilya Sorokin stopped Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang in the shootout and finished with a career-high 43 saves for New York. Jake Guentzel had two goals and an assist, Crosby had two assist and Casey DeSmith made 33 saves for the Penguins, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Danton Heinen and Jeff Carter also scored for Pittsburgh.