Seth Rorabaugh stories, Page 105
How will the Penguins replace injured forward Brock McGinn?
It remains to be seen who the Penguins will use to replace energetic bottom-six winger Brock McGinn, lost for several weeks because of a suspected right hand or arm injury. One thing is certain. It won’t be rookie forward Valtteri Puustinen — at least not in Sunday’s home game against...
Penguins defensemen Mike Matheson and Kris Letang find chemistry
Defenseman Mike Matheson didn’t just return to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup Friday after a five-game respite for an undisclosed injury. He also got a promotion. For most of Friday’s 5-2 home win against the Vegas Golden Knights, Matheson was teamed with Kris Letang on the Penguins’ top pairing. According to...
Penguins sign forward Drew O’Connor to contract extension
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed rookie forward Drew O’Connor to a one-year contract extension worth $750,000. Currently assigned to Wilkes/Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, the 23-year-old O’Connor was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason. Capable of playing either center or wing, O’Connor is in the midst...
Penguins recall forward Radim Zohorna from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Radim Zohorna from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. This marks the fourth occasion this season Zohorna has been summoned to the NHL roster. In eight NHL games this season, Zohorna has two points (one goal, one assists) while averaging 11 minutes, 57 seconds of...
Minor league report: Nailers beaten by CyclonesVideo
Forward Sam Houde had a goal and an assist for the Wheeling Nailers in an 8-5 road loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati on Friday. Goaltender Brody Claeys made 15 saves on 21 shots in the defeat for Wheeling (30-22-1-0) while forwards Bobby Hampton,...
Penguins forward Brock McGinn sidelined ‘week-to-week’ with injury
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brock McGinn will be sidelined on a “week-to-week” basis due to an undisclosed injury. McGinn appeared to injure his right hand or arm during the second period of Friday’s 5-2 home win against the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena. He did not record a shift...
Penguins find ample secondary scoring in win against Golden Knights
Jeff Carter has 413 career goals. That’s a figure worthy of a plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame. So he knows how to score. He is also intimately familiar with how difficult it can be to score. He, like a lot of his teammates who are expected to provide...
Penguins activate defenseman Mike Matheson from injured reserve
The Penguins activated defenseman Mike Matheson from injured reserve. An undisclosed injury has sidelined him for the past five games. In 50 games this season, Matheson has 21 points, including seven goals, most among the team’s defensemen. Surprisingly, Matheson replaced defenseman Brian Dumoulin in the lineup for Friday’s home game...
Once again, Penguins general manager Ron Hextall likes his team
On April 7, 2021, Ron Hextall held a conference call with local media and addressed the upcoming trade deadline that was five days away. Hextall professed satisfaction with his roster as it was constructed at that time. “I like our team,” Hextall proclaimed. “I like our depth. … I like...
Minor league report: Penguins’ losing streak reaches 4 gamesVideo
Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 24 saves on 27 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-2 overtime home loss to the Cleveland Monsters at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. Forwards Kasper Bjorkqvist and Drew O’Connor each scored goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (23-23-4-4) which has lost four consecutive games. Highlights:...
Hit totals don’t define the Penguins, even if they’re among the NHL’s leaders
A major reason the Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Brock McGinn to a four-year contract this past offseason was his physical game. He is a steady checker, as evidenced by the 84 hits he has been credited with, fifth-most on the roster. Combined with linemate Zach Aston-Reese’s team-leading 174 hits, the...
Penguins assign forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Penguins have assigned rookie forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL). In six NHL games this season, Bjorkqvist has one goal. A healthy scratch for the past six games, Bjorkqvist has been recalled to the NHL roster on three separate occasions this season. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton,...
Penguins’ secondary scoring falters in loss to Panthers
The Penguins’ top line was outstanding Tuesday in their meeting against the Florida Panthers. All three players – Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust – scored goals. It was a dominant showing by one of the top top lines in the NHL. As for the Panthers, they could only...
The Penguins are among the NHL’s leaders in hits. But is that important?
A major reason the Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Brock McGinn to a four-year contract this past offseason was his physical game. He is a steady checker, as evidenced by the 84 hits he has been credited with, fifth-most on the roster. Combined with linemate Zach Aston-Reese’s team-leading 174 hits, the...
Penguins to start goaltender Tristan Jarry against Panthers
Goaltender Tristan Jarry is slated to be in net for the Penguins when they host the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday. In 44 games this season, Jarry has a 27-11-6 record, a 2.30 goals against average, a .921 save percentage and four shutouts. Jarry has appeared in...
Injured Penguins forward Teddy Blueger on verge of returning
A veteran of 14 seasons, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brian Boyle is well-versed on most things as it pertains to an existence in the NHL. There are two axioms in particularly that ring true to him. First, job security is hard to come by. Second, defense can land you some steady...
Penguins assign goaltender Louis Domingue to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Penguins activated reserve goaltender Louis Domingue from injured reserve and assigned him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Monday. Domingue had been rehabilitating a right foot injury since being struck by a puck during an optional morning skate on Jan. 20. This season, Domingue has appeared...
Ex-Penguins forward Carl Hagelin sidelined with ‘serious’ eye injury
Even if he hasn’t played for the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2018, Carl Hagelin still holds a prominent place in the franchise’s history. And that notion hasn’t been diluted one bit amongst his former teammates in Pittsburgh despite him having been a member of the rival Washington Capitals since 2019. So...
Minor league report: Penguins’ losing streak reaches 3Video
Forward Michael Chaput had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-4 road overtime loss to the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. on Sunday. Defenseman Mitch Reinke recorded two assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (23-23-3-4) which has lost three consecutive games while forwards...
Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen gaining points as well as confidenceVideo
Kasperi Kapanen looks different. The flamboyant locks of flowing blonde hair are gone, having been cropped down to a more modest collection of curls. Tonsorial concerns noted, there’s something more profound about the Penguins winger that has changed with regard to his appearance. Confidence. Throughout the bulk of an underwhelming...
Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson, forward Jason Zucker resume skating
Injured Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson and Jason Zucker have resumed skating at the team’s facility in Cranberry. Both players worked on the ice before the team’s practice Sunday morning, though it is believed the pair also were on the ice during a scheduled off day Saturday. A return to the...
Minor league report: Penguins, Nailers each lose
Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 27 saves on 31 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-2 road loss to the Bridgeport Islanders at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Saturday. Forwards Jonathan Gruden and Drew O’Connor each scored goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (23-23-2-4). Highlights: The Penguins’ next game is a...
Penguins’ Mark Friedman on agitating opponents: ‘I kind of love doing it’
Mark Friedman doesn’t mask it. Shoot, he might as well launch a sophisticated marketing campaign for it. His penchant for agitating the opposition? It’s not an accident. “Yeah, I kind of love doing it,” Friedman said to media in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday. “I like getting underneath guys’ skin and...
Minor league report: Penguins edged by IslandersVideo
Despite two goals by forward Felix Robert, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were beaten by the Bridgeport Islanders, 5-4, at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Friday. Forward Michael Chaput recorded three assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (23-22-2-4) while goaltender Tommy Nappier made 15 saves on 20 shots in the defeat. Highlights: The...
Penguins lose ground to Hurricanes in overtime loss
A lot of the success the Penguins have enjoyed in 2021-22 has been predicated on discipline. To be specific, they don’t take a lot of penalties. In fact, they entered Friday with an average of 6:48 penalty minutes per game, the lowest such figure in the NHL. They maintained that...
