Coyotes caught roaming in Pittsburgh

By: MF,

It is Monday night hockey in Pittsburgh as the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Arizona Coyotes. There will new faces on both teams as management was busy making deals before the trade deadline today. The Pens ended up acquiring forward Matthias Plachta and a 2017 conditional seventh-round draft pick in exchange for Sergei Plotnikov.

Onto tonight’s game, Marc-Andre Fleury will start between the pipes. Fleury is 9-1-1 in his last 11 home starts. Nothing to note on the injury front or line changes. It looks like things will be the same for the Penguins as it was in their last game in which they won 4-1 over the Winnipeg Jets.

The special teams will be big and the penalty kill (PK) has been on point for the Penguins. The PK is perfect in seven of their last nine games overall (17 for 20 – 85%). They are perfect in 12 of the last 14 home games, which means they are 31 for 35 (88.6%). Matt Cullen is leading the charge as the leads the Penguin forwards averaging 2:36 shorthanded/time-on-ice.

Some numbers to note

•  Derrick Pouliot has four assists and is a +3 in his last five games.
• Carl Hagelin notched a two-goal game against the Jets.
• Letang only needs one goal to get a career high of 11. He also joined Paul Coffey as the only Penguin defensemen with five seasons of 10 or more goals.

The Penguins will have to come out with speed and pressure the Coyotes earlier. They cannot let up and have to push the offensive effort. Lets Go Pens! 

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards

Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist

Hagelin - Malkin - Kessel

Wilson - Bonino - Porter

Kuhnhackl - Cullen - Rust

Defense

Mattaa - Letang

Dumoulin - Daley

Pouliot - Cole

Fleury in the net!

Play by Play
PENS 6 Coyotes 0

3rd Period
0:00 - PENS GET THE 6-0 WIN OVER THE COYOTES! A GREAT, COMPLETE GAME FOR THE PENS! FLEURY WITH THE SHUTOUT & HORNY WAS ON FIRE! KEEP IT GOING GUYS!

1:29 - CULLEN SCORES! Cullen rifles one over the head of Domingue! 6-0 Pens

1:45 - LETANG SCORES! Letang skates away from his cover and finds some open room! He fires through traffic and past Domingue! 5-0 Pens

2:00 - Solid defense for the Pens this period. Not much action this period.

5:41 - Fleury has been on his game all night long. He is keeping the Coyotes at bay and coming up with some big saves as time whines down.

8:04 - The Pens are doing a good job of keeping the Coyotes from getting good scoring chances.

10:27 - Coyotes ring one off the crossbar!

14:41 - The Pens are buzzing around in the offensive zone. Good start to the third period.

20:00 - We are back for the last period of regulation! The Pens have to stay focused and wrap this game up! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period comes to a close and the Pens have extended their lead to 4-0 over the Coyotes.

1:53 - The Pens had some good looks, but the Coyotes are able to successfully kill the Pens' power play.

3:53 - The Coyotes are falling apart on the penalty front. Another power play has been awarded to the Pens as Dahlbeck sits.

4:15 - The Pens are currently dominating all plays. They are firing on all cylinders.

6:06 - Murphy is set free.

8:06 - Pens back to the power play as Murphy sits for interference.

8:54 - HORNQVIST SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY! A HORNY HATTER! HIS FIRST NHL CAREER HAT TRICK! Malkin makes a beautiful cross-ice pass to Hornqvist, who blows it past Domingue!

10:05 - Another power play chance for the Pens as Michalek is called for delay of game.

10:13 - KUNITZ SCORES! Letang rifles one from the point and Kunitz gets a stick on it to redirect it past Domingue! 3-0 Pens

12:14 - Rust gets around Stone using some nice stick work, but is stopped by the glove of Domingue.

13:04 - Martinook is robbed by the pads of Fleury!

15:22 - The Coyotes are able to kill off the Pens power play.

17:22 - Plotnikov now visits the penalty box for tripping. Power play for the Pens.

17:28 - Coyotes have good control to start this period.

19:08 - Hagelin is set free and the Pens are back to full strength.

20:00 - Time for the second period! The Pens have to kill off a Coyotes power play for 49 seconds to start! Kill it guys! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period

0:00 - First period ends and the Pens have the 2-0 lead!

1:11 - Hagelin takes a seat for tripping and the Coyotes get another power play chance.

2:14 - HORNQVIST SCORES! Letang gets the play started and the first line makes some crisp passes! Hornqvist comes flying down the wing and fires one past Domingue! 2-0 Pens

2:38 - The Pens crash the net, but Domingue covers up the puck.

4:57 - Tanger takes a hard hit from Doan and bounces right back.

6:33 - 1:22  regular power play for Coyotes.

7:11 - Coyotes getting a 5 on 3 power play for 38 seconds as Kuhnhackl joins Pouliot for goalie interference.

8:33 - Pouliot heads off for cross-checking and the Coyotes are getting a power play.

12:30 - The Pens are getting a power play chance. Hanzai sits for hooking.

14:18 - HORNQVIST SCORES! Crosby tries for a bad angle shot, but it's stopped and ends up sitting in the blue paint! Hornqvist beats out the other sticks to jam it home! 1-0 Pens

15:45 - Coyotes start throwing pucks on net, but Fleury is up to the task.

17:53 - Coyotes come out bagging bodies. The Pens have had three solid chances on net to start.

20:00 - The puck has dropped at Consol! The Pens have to come out and get on the board early! Lets Go Pens! 

A afternoon in Buffalo

By: MF,

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in Buffalo to battle the Sabres in a back-to-back afternoon game weekend. The Penguins are coming off a hard 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Yesterday, the Penguins were without the services of Marc-Andre Fleury who was not feeling well. He was missed in that game. However, he will be in the net today and Matt Murray has been called up to back Fleury up.

Today is a chance to get things back on track for the Penguins. They have to come out with speed and keep the pressure on the Sabres for the entire 60 minutes. Lets Go Pens!

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Hagelin - Cullen - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Sundqvist - Rust
Wilson - Porter - Sheary

Defense
Maatta - Letang
Dumoulin - Daley
Pouliot - Cole

Fleury in the net!

Play by Play
PENS 4 Sabres 3

3rd Period
0:00 - THE PENS GET THE 4-3 WIN OVER THE SABRES! FLEURY WAS SOLID IN NET ONCE AGAIN! THEY JUMP AHEAD OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS FOR THE WILD CARD SPOT! GREAT WAY TO GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK FOR THE PENS! 

0:21 - Bogosian Scores. Bogosian fires a rocket shot from the point and Fleury gets a piece, but not enough. 4-3 Pens

1:26 - Kane is set free and Sabres have an empty net.

3:26 - Kane gets a offensive zone penalty and trips up Daley. The Pens get a late power play.

3:36 - Sabres are finally getting some offensive zone time.

5:32 - Scramble ensues in front of the Pens' net and the puck is loose. Fleury with great awareness finds the puck and holds for the whistle.

6:11 - As soon as the Sabres clear the puck, the Pens turn around and dump it back in. The Pens are doing a good job of keeping the Sabres from getting any chances.

8:32 - Foligno is all alone in front, but Fleury makes a great poke check to get the puck away!

11:55 - Gionta Scores on the power play. Bogosian fires from the blue line and Gionta redirects his shot in front. 4-2 Pens

12:00 - CULLEN SCORES A SHORTHANDED GOAL! Cullen gets behind the Sabres and receives a loft pass! He puts it five-hole and it trickles over the goal line! 4-1 Pens

12:36 - Sheary takes a penalty and the Sabres will head onto the power play.

13:50 - Sundqvist beats the glove of Lehner, but not the goal post as it rings its disapproval.

15:09 - The Pens are in good position as they are still controlling the puck most of the time and well.

18:11 - Hornqvist gets the puck over to a soaring Crosby. He kicks it off his right skate to his backhand and fires one off the helmet of Lehner!

20:00 - Time for the third period! The Pens need to keep up the pressure and not the Sabres have any room! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period horn sounds and the Pens take the 3-1 lead over the Sabres!

2:10 - KESSEL SCORES! Letang sells the shot to get Lehner out of position and instead makes a pass to Kessel at the side of the net! Kessel holds and puts it in the wide open net! 3-1 Pens

3:15 - Wilson with a strong stick on McGinn to keep him from getting a good scoring chance.

4:19 - The Pens have found their game in this period. They have controlled the puck and got more shots on net. They just need to keep up the pressure.

7:07 - Hornqvist gets a rush up the center and makes a pass to Crosby at the side of the net, but Gorges tips the pass wide.

9:59 - Maatta rips a hard shot that rings one off the goal post!

12:48 - The brief power play for the Pens comes to an end.

13:14 - Short 24 second power play for the Pens.

14:30 - WILSON SCORES! Crosby wins the faceoff and a Sabres' stick breaks! Letang passes across the goal mouth to Wilson, who is wide open at the back door! Wilson goes high glove! 2-1 Pens

14:48 - Cullen and Hagelin get a shorthanded chance. Hagelin's shot is saved by Lehner. Eichel will now head to the sin bin and 4 on 4 hockey for 1:35.

15:15 - Maatta is sent to the box for interference and the Sabres get another power play opportunity.

16:29 - The last few shifts for the Pens have had some good time in the offensive zone. They need to get more shots on net as the Sabres are doing a good job of keeping them to the outside areas.

19:41 - The Sabres kill off the Pens power play.

20:00 - The guys are back on the ice for the second period! They have a power play for 1:18 to start! The Pens need to score early and keep the puck in the offensive zone! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period

0:00 - First period ends and we are tied at one a piece.

0:13 - Regular power play for the Pens now. 1:32 left.

0:41 - 29 second 5 on 3 power play for the Pens.

2:13 - Pysyk will now sit in the box for cross-checking and the Pens will head onto the power play.

3:25 - Once again Fleury comes up with a huge save to keep the Sabres at bay.

6:12 - Bogosian Scores on the power play. Bogosian fires a hard shot through traffic and Fleury doesn't see it. 1-1 tie game.

7:39 - Hornqvist will not sit in the box for slashing. The Pens bring put the PKers.

10:48 - HORNQVIST SCORES! Daley fires from the blue line and has Lehner moving to make the save! However, Hornqvist redirects the shot up front and puts in past a moving Lehner! 1-0 Pens

11:20 - Fleury makes two back-to-back saves on point blank shots. Even though he didn't play yesterday, he looks sharp.

12:54 - Not much has been going for the Pens. This game is kinda lack luster. Waiting for things to heat up for the Pens.

15:16 - Fleury has been solid to start this game.

17:21 - Sheary gets the puck on net, but Wilson is pushed aside before he can get to the puck.

20:00 - The puck has dropped! The Pens have to come out with speed and pressure the Sabres for the entire 60 minutes! Lets Go Pens! 

Life is a beach

By: MF,

Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins are in Sunrise, Florida to battle the Florida Panthers. The Penguins look to continue their successful trip with their dads.

I made tonight's little preview short due to be not feeling well this past week. I am recovering and should be 100% by the next game.

They have to come out with speed and keep the pressure up. Lets Go Pens!

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Kunitz - Crosby - Hornqvist
Hagelin - Cullen - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Sundqvist - Rust
Wilson - Porter - Sheary

Defense
Maatta - Letang
Dumoulin - Daley
Pouliot - Lovejoy

Fleury in the net!

Play by Play
Pens 1 Panthers 2 SO

Shootout
The Panthers get the 2-1 win in the shootout. At least the Pens come out with a point in this one.

Cullen is denied.

Jokinen scores for the Panthers.

Kessel rings a quick shot off the goal post.

Smith is poked check by Fleury! LIKE A BOSS!

Letang isn't able to beat the blocker of Montoya.

Bjugstad beats Fleury.

Kunitz is stopped by Montoya.

Trocheck is denied by Fleury.

CROSBY SCORES! FIVE HOLE! 

Huberdeau hits the post.


Overtime
0:00 - We are going to have a shootout!

1:43 - Fleury comes up with a huge save and covers for the first whistle of the overtime.

2:34 - Rust is robbed by Montoya twice!

2:58 - Fast pace skating for this overtime. Very entertaining overtime.

4:01 - Wow! The Panthers get a 3 on 1 chance with only Crosby back. Nothing happens, but Crosby gets a chance the other way and gets a pass to Kessel. Montoya makes the pad save.

5:00 - 60 minutes of regulation wasn't enough! Time to finish this one guys! Lets Go Pens!


3rd Period
0:00 - We are going to overtime!

0:39 - Panthers get some offensive zone time, but the Pens are able to clear.

3:19 - KUNITZ SCORES! Kunitz gets the puck after the Panthers' win the faceoff! He circles and elevates his shot over Montoya while Hornqvist screens the goalie! 1-1 tie game.

5:35 - Good penalty kill by the Pens once again. Time to get back to offense!

7:35 - Letang is going to the box for delay of game. Power play for the Pens. Not good timing.

8:07 - Crosby gets the puck to Wilson who turns and fires, but Montoya is able to get the pad out.

8:15 - The defense of the Pens have been jumping up consistently to get something going.

10:29 - The Pens are not getting any shots on net this period. They only have one. Panthers are controlling the puck.

13:34 - Crosby tires a shift with Wilson and Kessel. They get some looks at the net, but cannot capitalize.

16:13 - Another successful penalty kill for the Pens. Fleury is keeping the Pens in this one as he made some unreal saves on the penalty kill.

18:00 - Hagelin gets behind the Panthers defense and gets a breakaway, but Montoya makes the pad save as Hagelin tried to go five-hole.

18:13 - Letang heads to the box for holding and the Panthers will go onto the power play.

18:23 - Fleury makes two good saves on shots from Smith and Shaw.

20:00 - The guys are back on the ice for the third! The Pens have to get one early and keep up the pressure on Montoya! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period ends and the Panthers still have the 1-0 lead.

0:02 - Dumoulin fires from the blue line and the puck is loose. The horn sounds before the Pens can get to the rebound.

3:06 - Looks like Crosby is being double shifted again this game. He was just out with the fourth line.

4:21 - Much better skating by the Pens right now, but still need that opening goal to shift things in their favor.

7:13 - The Pens are starting to show some life and energy, but Montoya has been solid.

10:12 - The fourth line of the Pens is doing well. They have a lot of energy and bring it every shift. i

12:57 - The Pens power play comes to an end.

11:49 - Hornqvist gets a stick to the face and goes to the bench hunched over. He is attended to and begins yelling at the referees. He is hot (very mad).

14:57 - Kessel draws a holding call on Huberdeau and the Pens get a power play chance.

17:25 - Hornqvist once again makes his presence known in front of Montoya.

20:00 - Time for the second period and the Pens to get one in the back of the Panthers' net! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period

0:00 - First period ends and the Panthers have the 1-0 lead over the Pens.

0:50 - A successful kill for the Pens as Cullen is released. The Pens did a great job of making the Panthers look dysfunctional.

2:50 - Cullen will now visit the box for delay of game. Panthers to the power play.

4:13 - The Pens are starting to pressure the Panthers a little more, but things are getting chippy.

6:28 - Crosby and Hornqvist get a chance as they crash the net for the loose puck, but Luongo freezes it.

8:43 - The Pens power play comes to an end. It wasn't really a power play to begin with.

10:43 - Kampfer will take a seat in the sin bin for holding and the Pens get the first chance on the power play tonight.

12:30 - Bjugstad Scores. The Panthers cycle the puck around the zone and eventually Bjugstad is left alone at the side to put it past Fleury. 1-0 Panthers

14:02 - Panthers get some quality time and cycle the puck in the Pens' zone.

16:24 - Fleury makes a solid first save on a point blank shot.

20:00 - The puck has dropped in Florida! The Pens need to come out with speed and pressure the Panthers early! Lets Go Pens!