Pens sign Lovejoy, Wallace
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today the signing of defenseman Ben Lovejoy and forward Tim Wallace (Penguins.com).
Both spent time between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre last season. Lovejoy played in two games in the NHL, while Wallace played in played in 16 games and registered two assists.
The two will likely be the first to get a call up to the Penguins in 2009-10 if the Pens need fill-ins. Wallace is a guy people talk about as a possible permanent fourth-liner. He’s a gritty, grind-it-out winger that fits perfectly on a fourth line. Lovejoy is the best defenseman in the Penguins’ minor league system, in my opinion.
Click read more for their career stats in professional hockey.
Bill Guerin signed
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Bill Guerin to a one-year deal today. The contract is worth a reported $2 million.
Guerin’s signing likely assures that Sidney Crosby will have the same line next season. Guerin also brings the veteran presence most of the players and all of us fans want on the team.
The pay he will receive has not yet been disclosed. We will update you when there is more information.
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Chris | PPT
Pens sign Craig Adams
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed Craig Adams to a two-year deal. His contract will pay him $550,000 each year for two years, which is a decrease from his $600,000 salary of this past season.
That’s great news for the Penguins as far as signing other guys goes. We figured he could earn around $750,000 to $1 million.
Adams scored 3 goals and added two assists in the playoff run. He’s a solid fourth-line center that we were hoping would get re-signed. His signing means the Penguins are all set down the middle, with each line’s center under contract — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Adams.
Chicago placed Adams on waivers and the Pens picked him up. Maybe the Blackhawks should have kept the guy, considering they were knocked out in Western Conference Finals. Solid player, solid guy.
NO SLEEP
So now we get overly optimistic.
Detroit 3 — Pittsburgh 1
(Red Wings lead series 1-0)
I mean, hasn’t that been the case for every Pens fans since the end of Game 1? Before the game started we all knew how important a win in Game 1 would be, considering the first two games are back-to-back on Detroit’s home ice.
Many of us are thinking, ‘We’re alright. All we need to do is split.’ And that’s true. But a win tonight will not come easy.
Detroit looks just as strong as they did last year. Confidence for the Penguins should come from the fact that they look better.
Pens vs. Canes – Series Outlook
Well here it is folks. The race for the Stanley Cup is down to its final four, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes vying for the Prince of Wales Trophy (awarded to the Eastern Conference champion).
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes
I’m hearing alot of confidence from alot of the Pittsburgh fans. I’ve got to stress that Carolina is no pushover. They are a solid hockey team with the hottest goaltender in the league.
This series is destined to go at least six games, maybe seven. Lucky for the Pens is the fact that they earned that No. 4 seed. Had it not been for the New York Rangers beating Philadelphia on the last day of the regular season, we may not even be here right now.
Nevertheless, it’s off to the conference finals. Here’s how I feel about the upcoming series …
Second Round Schedule Released
| SERIES J |
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| Saturday, May 2 | at Washington | |||||
| Monday, May 4 | at Washington | |||||
| Wednesday, May 6 | at Pittsburgh | |||||
| Friday, May 8 | at Pittsburgh | |||||
| *Saturday, May 9 | at Washington | |||||
| *Monday, May 11 | at Pittsburgh | |||||
| *Wednesday, May 13 | at Washington |
Site Down
PPT will be down until tomorrow as Dan and I are moving back up to school. We will be back to blogging for Wednesday’s game against the Caps.
GO PENS
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Chris | PPT
“Avenge 6-4-08″
Power Play falters, Habs beat Pens
Another 0-5 effort on the power play led to another Penguins loss Saturday night, this time to Montreal by a score of 3-2.
Canadiens 3 — Penguins 2
Many will blame the soft goal given up by Marc-Andre Fleury early in the third period or the defense of he Pens. However, a power play unit with so much talent that is given so many chances should not go 0-5. Especially against a Montreal team with an average penalty kill.
Not to mention the fact that three of the five came in the third period while trailing. The final chance came with just over three minutes remaining — a gift for any team trying to tie a game late.
Previewing Pens @ Sabres
Either the Sabres are creeping up on the Pens or the Pens are creeping down on the Sabres.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres
Likely it’s a little of both since both teams are going in opposite directions. In the last eight games, Buffalo is 5-2-1. Compare that to a 3-5-0 mark in the Penguins’ last eight games.
Both are separated by two points and desperately need two more tonight to keep pace with the leaders in the Eastern Conference.
Weekly Rant: A December to forget
My Rant
I think that fans think the Penguins are in better shape than they really are.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division and seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They can’t win at home and are in the midst of their worst streak of hockey since last season.
This all came to its climax on Saturday night when the Pens lost to Toronto — a team that is rebuilding and is struggling to hover around .500 on the season.
Sidney Crosby cant find the net, the two best defensemen are out and the Pens are relying on Wilkes-Barre to fill a multitude of roster spots.
Somehow this team finds itself with mid-season injury woes seemingly every year. And, somehow, this team finds a way to get around it and continue to win games.
That trend is in jeopardy.
Team Info
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Stanley Cup Champions
Penguins Win Series 4-3
Playoff Stats:
Points: Evgeni Malkin (14 G + 22 A) – 36 pts.
Goals: Sidney Crosby – 15 G
Assists: Evgeni Malkin – 22 A
PIM: Evgeni Malkin – 51 PIM
+/-: Sidney Crosby — +9
GAA: Marc-Andre Fleury – 2.61
SV%: Marc-Andre Fleury – .908
Regular Season Stats:
Points: Evgeni Malkin – 113 points (35 G + 78 A)
Goals: Evgeni Malkin – 35 goals
Assists: Evgeni Malkin – 78 assists
PIM: Eric Godard - 171 PIM
+/-: Rob Scuderi — +23
GAA: Marc-Andre Fleury – 2.66
SV%: Marc-Andre Fleury – .905
