The Penguins opened the scoring when Patrik Hornquist tips a Phil Kessel shot at 10:33. Kris LeTang added the third assist. It was the first power play goal on home ice since opening night. The second power play goal came at 13:34 when Phil Kessel scored on a feed from Malkin feed. Late in the period the Penguins drew a two man penalty. Brandon Point scored with 2.7 seconds left in the period. The Penguins will start the second period down two men.
NFL flexes games in Weeks 13 and 14
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has moved the Chargers at Steelers game on Dec. 2 to prime time, replacing the 49ers at Seahawks matchup originally schedule for Sunday night.
San Francisco-Seattle will move to 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox.
For the next week, the Dec. 9 game of the Rams at the Bears is now a prime-timer at 8:20 p.m. EST. Pittsburgh at Oakland moves from a night contest to 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox.
This Sunday night’s game, Minnesota at Chicago, previously was flexed from daytime, replacing Pittsburgh at Jacksonville.
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Indians send INF Gonzalez to Pirates in 5-player swap
By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians traded versatile infielder Erik Gonzalez to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a five-player swap.
Cleveland sent Gonzalez, who appeared in 81 games for the AL Central champions last season, and right-handers Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza to the Pirates for outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff.
Gonzalez batted .265 with one homer and 16 RBIs last season for Cleveland, which signed the Dominican native in 2009. Gonzalez filled a utility role for the Indians, but was not going to be able to get into the starting lineup behind All-Stars Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez.
The 25-year-old Luplow brings needed depth to Cleveland’s outfield, which was decimated by injuries last season. He appeared in 64 games over the past two seasons with the Pirates, who named him their top minor league player in 2017.
Moroff has split the last three seasons between Triple-A Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, appearing in 26 games for the Pirates in 2018.
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Penguins sign GM Rutherford to 3-year extension
PITTSBURGH (AP) — General manager Jim Rutherford is sticking with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The team announced Wednesday it has extended Rutherford’s contract through the 2021-22 season. His old deal was set to expire at the end of this season.
The 69-year-old Rutherford is the only general manager to win Stanley Cups with multiple teams since the league expanded in 1967. He put together the Carolina Hurricanes group that won the franchise’s only Cup in 2006 and helped the Penguins become the first team in nearly 20 years to win consecutive championships when Pittsburgh won it all in 2016 and 2017.
Penguins co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle called Rutherford “one of the best general managers in all of sports.”
The Penguins have won 234 regular-season and playoff games since Rutherford arrived in the summer of 2014. Only the Washington Capitals (249) and Tampa Bay Lightning (240) have more wins over that period.
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Penguins send Hagelin to Kings for Pearson
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded forward Carl Hagelin to the Los Angeles Kings for forward Tanner Pearson.
The teams announced the trade Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Hagelin is off to a sluggish start for Pittsburgh this season, with just one goal and two assists in 16 games.
He played a pivotal role in Pittsburgh’s run to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. His empty-net goal in Game 6 of the 2017 Cup Finals against Nashville assured the Penguins of a second straight title. Hagelin, who is making $4 million this season, is scheduled to become a free agent next summer.
The 26-year-old Pearson has one assist in 17 games for Los Angeles this season. He is signed through the 2020-21 season, and his contract carries an average annual value of $3.75 million.
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The losing streak was Pittsburgh’s longest since it lost five in a row from Dec. 11-19, 2015, which included the first four games under coach Mike Sullivan. The Penguins haven’t lost six straight since 2006. Pittsburgh also ended a four-game home losing streak and continued a six-game points streak against Arizona.
DeSmith had his second shutout of the season and third of his career. DeSmith, signed by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in July 2017, has allowed five goals in his last six appearances. Starter Matt Murray served as the backup for the second straight game. He has one win in five home starts.
Crosby scored his eighth goal, and Dominik Simon also had a goal and an assist. Patric Hornqvist scored his fifth, and Brian Dumoulin had his first goal in 22 games for Pittsburgh.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 28 shots for the Coyotes. They lost their third straight game after winning the previous five. Arizona hasn’t won in Pittsburgh since March 25, 2014.
Crosby broke a scoreless deadlock at 6:42 of the second period. Crosby, streaking down the right side, lifted a backhander from a sharp angle over the shoulder of a standing Kuemper.
Simon extended the lead 1:52 later when he redirected a Bryan Rust pass behind Kuemper from the top of the crease.
Hornqvist made it a 3-0 game with 15.3 seconds to play in the second period. Hornqvist one-timed a behind-the-net feed from Simon over Kuemper’s blocker.
NOTES: The Penguins have won seven of their last nine against Arizona. Phil Kessel has a 10-game point streak against Arizona with points in 13 of 16 career meetings. … D Ilya Lyubushkin replaced D Alex Goligoski in the Coyotes’ lineup, who is out with a lower-body injury. Penguins’ F Derick Brassard (lower body) missed his seventh straight game. F Garrett Wilson and D Juuso Riikola played in place of D Jamie Oleksiak and F Daniel Sprong, who were scratched for Pittsburgh. F Josh Archibald played for F Richard Panik, while D Dakota Mermis also sat for Arizona.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: At Washington on Sunday night.
Penguins: At New Jersey on Tuesday night.
The losing streak was Pittsburgh’s longest since it lost five in a row from Dec. 11-19, 2015, which included the first four games under coach Mike Sullivan. The Penguins haven’t lost six straight since 2006. Pittsburgh also ended a four-game home losing streak and continued a six-game points streak against Arizona.
DeSmith had his second shutout of the season and third of his career. DeSmith, signed by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in July 2017, has allowed five goals in his last six appearances. Starter Matt Murray served as the backup for the second straight game. He has one win in five home starts.
Crosby scored his eighth goal, and Dominik Simon also had a goal and an assist. Patric Hornqvist scored his fifth, and Brian Dumoulin had his first goal in 22 games for Pittsburgh.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 28 shots for the Coyotes. They lost their third straight game after winning the previous five. Arizona hasn’t won in Pittsburgh since March 25, 2014.
Crosby broke a scoreless deadlock at 6:42 of the second period. Crosby, streaking down the right side, lifted a backhander from a sharp angle over the shoulder of a standing Kuemper.
Simon extended the lead 1:52 later when he redirected a Bryan Rust pass behind Kuemper from the top of the crease.
Hornqvist made it a 3-0 game with 15.3 seconds to play in the second period. Hornqvist one-timed a behind-the-net feed from Simon over Kuemper’s blocker.
NOTES: The Penguins have won seven of their last nine against Arizona. Phil Kessel has a 10-game point streak against Arizona with points in 13 of 16 career meetings. … D Ilya Lyubushkin replaced D Alex Goligoski in the Coyotes’ lineup, who is out with a lower-body injury. Penguins’ F Derick Brassard (lower body) missed his seventh straight game. F Garrett Wilson and D Juuso Riikola played in place of D Jamie Oleksiak and F Daniel Sprong, who were scratched for Pittsburgh. F Josh Archibald played for F Richard Panik, while D Dakota Mermis also sat for Arizona.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: At Washington on Sunday night.
Penguins: At New Jersey on Tuesday night.
Pens:
Brian Dumoulin (7:24)
2nd Period Goals:
PIT:
Sindey Crosby (6:42)
Dominik Simon (8:34)
Patric Hornqvist (19:44)
Westminster added to their lead with a 3yd TD pass from Konieczka to Joy. It caps a 58-yd drive 21-7 Westminster.
