Penguins defeat Senators 4-1 in Game One (14-May-2013)
The Penguins beat Ottawa 4-1 in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in front of 18,621 at CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens were 2 for 4 on the power play and also netted a shorthanded Pascal Dupuis goal in the third. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist to extend his playoff point streak to seven games. Tomas Vokoun made 35 saves on 36 shots in goal.
2013 NHL Award Nominees - Pittsburgh: (14-May-2013)
Sidney Crosby - Hart Trophy (MVP), Masterton Trophy
Kris Letang - Norris Trophy
Ray Shero - GM of the Year
Penguins - Senators Semifinal Schedule (14-May-2013)
The schedule has been set for the Eastern Conference Semifinal between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators:
Tuesday, May 14 - 7:30pm, Ottawa at Pittsburgh, NBCSN
Friday, May 17 - 7:30pm, Ottawa at Pittsburgh, NBCSN
Sunday, May 19 - 7:30pm, Pittsburgh at Ottawa, NBCSN
Wednesday, May 22 - 7:30pm, Pittsburgh at Ottawa, NBCSN
*Friday, May 24 - 7:30pm, Ottawa at Pittsburgh, NBCSN
*Sunday, May 26 - TBD, Pittsburgh at Ottawa
*Tuesday, May 28 - TBD, Ottawa at Pittsburgh
* If necessary
Penguins win series with 4-3 overtime victory in Game Six (11-May-2013)
The Penguins close out the Islanders with a Brooks Orpik overtime goal to win 4-3 in front of 16,170 at Nassau Coliseum. New York had three leads in the game but Paul Martin got the game-tying goal at 14:44 of the third and then Orpik, off a Tyler Kennedy feed, took a slap shot from the left point at 7:49 of the first overtime period. The goal was Orpik's first in 106 games. Tomas Vokoun had another strong game in net making 35 saves. The Pens will now face the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Penguins win Game Five 4-0 to take 3-2 series lead (9-May-2013)
The Penguins get a 31-save performance from Tomas Vokoun and defeat the Islanders 4-0 in front of 18,636 at CONSOL Energy Center. Tyler Kennedy playing his first game of the playoffs got the eventual game-winner with a breakaway goal off a long Kris Letang feed at 7:26 of the second period. Douglas Murray scored his second of the playoffs at 8:47. Sidney Crosby split the defense and got his third of the series with a beautiful goal reminiscent of Mario Lemieux at the 14:00 minute mark of the second. Kris Letang closed out the scoring at 5:43 of the third.
Series tied after Penguins lose 6-4 to Islanders in Game Four (7-May-2013)
The Penguins give up three in the third after taking a 4-3 lead in the opening minute of the third period and lose 6-4 to the Islanders in front of 16,170 at Nassau Coliseum. James Neal, Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Sutter and Pascal Dupuis scored for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury gave up two bad goals, including another goal from a shot behind the net, and only made 18 saves on 24 shots.
Letang named finalist for the Norris Trophy (7-May-2013)
Kris Letang, along with P.K. Subban of the Montreal Canadians and Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild, has been named a finalist for the Norris Trophy awarded to the defenseman that shows the "greatest all-round ability" at the position, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.
Tonight's (5/7/13 - 7:00) Officials, Anthem, Milestones (7-May-2013)
The Officials, Anthem, Milestones thread for tonight's Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 has been posted at http://www.letsgopens.com/scripts/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61748.
Penguins split pair of playoff games over the weekend (5-May-2013)
The Penguins welcomed Sidney Crosby back to action and split Games Two and Three against the Islanders over the weekend. On Friday night in Pittsburgh, the Pens built a 3-1 lead after the first period with Crosby scoring twice and Evgeni Malkin opening the scoring. The Islanders bounced back to tie the game in the second and then got the game-winner from Kyle Okposo in the third. On Sunday afternoon on Long Island, the Penguins trailed by two early in the first but got the game's next four only to blow a two-goal third period lead which sent the game to overtime. Chris Kunitz, off a Sidney Crosby feed, got the power-play game-winner at the 8:44 mark of the first overtime.
Penguins easily beat Islanders 5-0 in Game One (1-May-2013)
The Penguins open the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals with an easy 5-0 win over the Islanders in front of 18,612 at CONSOL Energy Center. Pittsburgh got goals from Beau Bennett and Pascal Dupuis in the first and then three from Kris Letang, Dupuis and Tanner Glass in the second. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 26 shots he faced for his sixth playoff shutout tying the team record held by Tom Barrasso. James Neal left the game in the second with a lower body injury.
Tonight's (5/1/13 - 7:30) Officials, Anthem, Milestones (1-May-2013)
The Officials, Anthem, Milestones thread for tonight's New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 1 has been posted at http://www.letsgopens.com/scripts/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61661.
Penguins - Islanders Quarterfinal Schedule (29-Apr-2013)
Wednesday, May 1 - 7:30pm, NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, NBCSN
Friday, May 3 - 7pm, NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, NBCSN
Sunday, May 5 - 12pm, Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, NBC
Tuesday, May 7 - 7pm, Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, NBCSN
*Thursday, May 9 - 7pm, NY Islanders at Pittsburgh
*Saturday, May 11 - TBD, Pittsburgh at NY Islanders
*Sunday, May 12 - TBD, NY Islanders at Pittsburgh
* If necessary
Penguins close out regular season with commanding 8-3 victory over the Hurricanes (27-Apr-2013)
The Penguins close out the 2013 regular season with a dominating 8-3 win over Carolina in front of 18,658 at CONSOL Energy Center. The game was tied at three after two periods and then Pittsburgh exploded for five goals in the third to put down the Canes. James Neal returned to action with a tinted visor and notched his third career hat trick and added an assist. Paul Martin also returned to action after missing 12 games with a broken hand.
Penguins lose 3-2 to the Devils (25-Apr-2013)
The Penguins blow a 2-0 lead and lose their final regular season road game 3-2 to the Devils in front of 16,122 at Prudential Center. Pittsburgh got goals from Matt Cooke and Jussi Jokinen to build a 2-0 lead at 14:01 of the second period. New Jersey responded with a late second period goal and two in the third including the game-winner from Ilya Kovalchuk to grab the win.