The Pittsburgh Penguins are up 2 games to 0 on the Nashville Predators, and Beaver County Radio cheered them on with a pep rally at the Beaver County Courthouse on Friday afternoon. The SDS line (Sparks, Drzik, Septak) joined Bob Barrickman, Caleb Pasquale, Mark Peterson, and many fellow Penguin fans in a time of celebration, prediction, and some good food.
Here’s what you missed in case you weren’t there!
After a defensive struggle that lasted for more than 50 minutes, Evgeni Malkin found Phil Kessel to score the first goal of the game, and that held as the Penguins win 1-0 against the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
With more details on what happened, what’s next, and words from Chris Kunitz, here’s Bruce Frey.
Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary returned to the ice for a second straight day today at the UPMC66 Training Facility in Cranberry today. after suffering concussions during Game 3 against the Washington Capitals.
Both were wearing normal jerseys, rather than a no-contact version.
Crosby and Sheary also took part in normal line rushes during the Penguins’ practice. Crosby was centering Jake Guentzel and Patric Hornqvist, while Sheary was alongside Nick Bonino and Bryan Rust. Crosby said he feels good after practice today and Sheary will be a game time decision
Justin Schultz broke a 2-2 tie midway throughout the second period, and Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins defense held fast, as Pittsburgh wins Game 4 by a score of 3-2 against the Washington Capitals, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Jake Guentzel and Patric Hornqvist also tallied for the Pens, and Fleury made 36 saves on the night, earning the game’s honor of First Star.
Tune in to A.M. Beaver County tomorrow morning at 6:30 as Matt Drzik and Pat Septak break down Game 4 and look to Game 5, which will be Saturday night at 7:15 in Washington.
The Pittsburgh Penguins over came another slow start on Sunday Night In Game 3 of Round 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5 to 4 in over time. The Pens now have a commanding three games to none lead in the series. Cam Atkinson scored for Columbus just 11 seconds into the game. Jake Guentzel then tied the game up at the 3:17 mark of the first period. At the 5:02 mark of the first period Cam Atkinson scored again and then just 68 seconds later Zach Werenski scored giving the Blue Jackets a 3 to 1 lead after one period. Bryan Rust scored at the 5:21 and 13:25 mark of the second period tying the game going into the third period. Jake Guentzel then scored his second of the game at the 13:10 mark of the third period giving the pens a 5 to 4 lead. Brandon Dubinsky then scored late at the 15:11 mark tying the game back up. The overtime period was exciting and quick paced through out with both teams getting many opportunities to score. In the end Jake Guentzel snuck the puck under the pads of Sergei Bobrovsky at the 13:10 mark of the first overtime to give the Pens the victory and a commanding three games to none lead on the series over the Blue Jackets. Marc Andre Fleury was again stellar and kept the Pens in the game throughout. The Pens can wrap up the series in game four on Tuesday night from Columbus. Air-time on Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA is 7 pm with puck drop at 7:30 pm. Guentzels hat trick and game winner in over time is the first time since the 1940’s that a rookie has done that.
The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched home ice for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 7-4 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night at the Prudential Center. The Penguins won their 50th game of the season, reaching the mark for the first time since 2014. Coincedentally, their first round opponent in 2014 is the same as it will be this year: Columbus.
Tune in to AM Beaver County for further discussion and highlights with Matt Drzik and Pat Septak, beginning at 6:30.
The Penguins squandered an opportunity to take over first place in the Metropolitan Division, falling to the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in a shootout. Nick Bonino had the lone goal for Pittsburgh, who earn a point in the standings and get to 102 points.
Tonight the Pens look to tie the Capitals (104) for first place in the Metro, as they host the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena. Pre-game begins at 6:30 on Beaver County Radio, with puck-drop at 7:00.
Other results from last night (3/24):
Washington 2, Columbus 1 (SO)
Tampa Bay 6, Boston 3
Carolina 4, Montreal 1
Toronto 4, New Jersey 2
Florida 3, Arizona 1
St. Louis 4, Vancouver 1
Nashville 3, Calgary 1
Chicago 3, Dallas 2 (SO)
Philadelphia 3, Minnesota 1
Edmonton 7, Colorado 4
Los Angeles 5, Winnipeg 2
Tonight’s other games (3/25):
Tampa Bay at Detroit
San Jose at Dallas
Winnipeg at Anaheim
The Pittsburgh Penguins were active at the trade deadline, adding Frank Corrado and Mark Streit to the defensive depth while dealing Eric Fehr and Steve Oleksy to Toronto.
Unfortunately the Penguins were not active in the win column, dropping their second consecutive game in as many nights, losing to Chicago 4-1. Scott Wilson scored the lone Pittsburgh goal, while Richard Panik scored the game winner and Patrick Kane added a hat trick for the Blackhawks.
The Penguins stay tied for second place in the Metropolitan with Columbus, and return to action Friday night against Tampa Bay at home. Tampa Bay defeated Carolina in the only other NHL game last night, winning 4-3 in overtime.
Tonight’s NHL games:
Minnesota at Columbus
New Jersey at Washington
NY Rangers at Boston
Arizona at Buffalo
Florida at Philadelphia
Nashville at Montreal
Colorado at Ottawa
NY Islanders at Dallas
Vancouver at San Jose
Toronto at Los Angeles
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby combined for 10 penalty minutes last night, but they also scored a goal a piece (including the GWG by Crosby), and the Penguins broke their 2-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins (37-14-8) also got a goal from Scott Wilson, and Matt Murray stopped 29 shots in the victory. Jeff Skinner’s 20th goal of the year was the only tally for the Hurricanes (24-24-8). Pittsburgh returns to action Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field.
Other results from last night in the NHL:
Ottawa 2, New Jersey 1
Montreal 3, NY Rangers 2 (SO)
Toronto 5, Winnipeg 4 (OT)
NY Islanders 3, Detroit 1
Tampa Bay 4, Edmonton 1
Calgary 6, Nashville 5 (OT)
Chicago 5, Minnesota 3
Los Angeles 2, Colorado 1
Tonight’s NHL games:
Edmonton at Florida
Washington at Philadelphia
Boston at Anaheim
Sidney Crosby attempts to earn point #1,000 as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at the PPG Paints Arena Thursday night. The Penguins captain looks to become the 86th player in NHL history to reach the thousand-point mark in his 757th career game. Pre-game on Beaver County Radio is set for 6:30 tonight.
Other games in NHL action tonight:
NY Rangers at NY Islanders
Ottawa at New Jersey
Colorado at Buffalo
Dallas at Minnesota
Vancouver at St. Louis
Philadelphia at Edmonton
Arizona at Los Angeles
Last night’s results:
Columbus 5
Toronto 2
St. Louis 2
Detroit 0
Calgary 3
Philadelphia 1
Florida 6
San Jose 5 [OT]