Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks. 2016 NHL Playoffs. SCF. Game 6. 06.12.2016. (HD) On the San Jose Sharks
Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking at what Sharks GM Doug Wilson should focus on this offseason.
1. Sign Brent Burns to a long-term contract Burns is eligible for a contract extension after July 1st. Dustin Byfugliens five-year, $7.6 million per season deal should be the starting point for Burns. Tomas Hertl also needs a new contract and will get a nice raise.
2. Trade Patrick Marleau Marleaus early season trade request was limited and included the Kings, Ducks and Rangers. Marleau carries a $6.7 million cap hit and its probably time to move on. The Sharks would likely have to retain some salary.
3. Fill out their depth they need to add depth to their bottom six and their third pairing was exposed at times. James Reimer might be looking for a starting job elsewhere, but would be a good fit as their backup if he wants to return.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins
Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking at what Penguins GM Jim Rutherford should focus on this offseason.
1. Trade Marc-Andre Fleury If there is going to be an expansion draft, the Penguins are not going to be able to keep both Fleury and Matt Murray. Fleury carries a $5.75 million cap hit for three more years, so it makes sense to move his contract and use the money elsewhere. He could be a fit for the Flames or Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have the draft picks and cap space to take on Fleury.
2. New deals for defensemen Justin Schultz requires a $3.9 million qualifying offer, but the Penguins could sign him to a mulit-year deal at a lower cap hit. The 32-year old Ben Lovejoy deserves to come back, but they cant give him too much term.
3. Extend Matt Murrays contract Murray has a year left at $620,000 and Rutherford should look to extend him like Ducks GM Bob Murray did with John Gibson.
San Jose Sharks vs Pittsburgh Penguins. 2016 NHL Playoffs. SCF. Game 5. 06.09.2016. (HD)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The iron barriers were set up throughout the event level of the Consol Energy Center.
Here"s where the families and friends of all the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to assemble to go on the ice to celebrate with the Stanley Cup.
Here"s where the media would line up before going out onto the ice to interview the celebrating Penguins.
And then, moments after San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski sent the puck into the empty net to secure a 4-2 victory for the visiting San Jose Sharks in Game 5 on Thursday, NHL staff quickly gathered up the barriers and the signage and packed it away.
What seemed possible if not probable now was no longer an option. Not on this night.
Perhaps those signs will reappear Sunday night (8 ET) when Game 6 will be played in San Jose, the Penguins" series lead now whittled to 3-2.
Sorry, Penguins fans, you"re going to have to wait a few days more.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
But their appearance and then sudden disappearance late Thursday night was a reminder of just how close the Penguins were to doing what they"d set out to do and certainly a painful reminder of just how difficult the final step will be if they"re to earn their fourth franchise Stanley Cup.
"Would have been nice," offered Pittsburgh defenseman Olli Maatta. "But that"s how it goes. It"s not going to be easy.
"It"s a good team down that end. We know it"s not going to be easy and we just got to leave this behind us and focus on Sunday."
So much went so well for the Penguins in Game 5 when so much was at stake, so much seemed to be coming together as though it was meant to be.
Tens of thousands of fans surrounded Consol Energy Center on a bright, sunny day in Pittsburgh in the hopes of being part of the first Stanley Cup won by the home side in Pittsburgh, many gathering early in the day hours before the puck dropped.
Families and friends and of course the Stanley Cup had arrived en masse in town.
And for the most part, the Penguins were again the dominant team.
For the most part.
Perhaps suffering from nerves after having had two days to contemplate the end of the journey, the Penguins were out of sync early and allowed the Sharks their first in-game lead of the series, giving up two goals on the first three shots taken by the Sharks.
Still, even though the Penguins were down 2-0 less than three minutes into Game 5, they regained composure and just as quickly tied the game with two goals in 22 seconds and for a time it looked as though they might simply run the Sharks out of the building.
Logan Couture was happy to make it 2-0 for the Sharks.Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
But it didn"t happen that way as Melker Karlsson scored late in the first and it was a goal that would stand up as the winner, even though the Penguins dominated puck possession and scoring opportunities throughout the last two periods.
At the end of the night, the Penguins had more than doubled the Sharks" shot totals, 46-21, and shot attempts, 76-36.
Their best players were dominant, especially captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who had, arguably, his best game of the postseason.
But in the end the Penguins could not find a way to get the better of Sharks goalie Martin Jones, who had a monster night and had to reconcile themselves to the idea of packing up for another trip west.
"That"s the way the game goes," said Crosby. "Two close teams and both want that win bad. Sometimes you don"t get the bounces, but we did a lot of good things."
Someone suggested that if you played this same game 10 times in a row, the Penguins wouldn"t come up on the losing end many times.
"Yeah, I"d like to think so," Crosby said. "I think we believe that. I think when you generate that many good quality scoring chances, the power play was working the puck around pretty good, yeah, I think that if we do all of those things and come with the same mindset, understand the situation, and go after them right from the start [we will win]."
And maybe that"s the way this series will work out, that the Penguins, who have been the better team for large portions of the series and, of course, were the better team for large portions of Game 5, will win one more game because that"s what should happen.
Or maybe this was the game the Penguins were supposed to win.
Certainly, the tens of thousands of fans who dispersed as though by magic outside the arena as it became clear that no celebration would be unfolding in their town Thursday night believed for a long time it was meant to be.
With all of Pittsburgh ready for a parade, Sharks goalie Martin Jones stopped those plans with a stunning 44-save performance that forced the Stanley Cup finals back west.
The San Jose Sharks decided they weren"t going to roll over in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Instead, the Sharks won 4-2. And we"ve got the evidence to prove it.
From the first game until the Stanley Cup is handed out, we have you covered, with all the results in one spot.
2 Related
And maybe the Pens themselves believed it themselves.
"We knew they were desperate team, they were going to come hard, and I don"t we think we were ready for it," Maatta said. "I think the last 55 minutes was great hockey from us. Just got to bear down. I think we"re going to be fine if we play the same way. We just got to keep going."
In the end, no matter the shot totals or the goal posts struck (Phil Kessel hit both posts on a shot in the first but the puck stayed out) or the imbalance in scoring chances and puck possession, the result was the result.
Does the loss throw a hint of doubt into a Penguins team that has showed no signs of weaknesses, no propensity for self-doubt as they have marched to within one game of a championship?
It"s hard to imagine it given the unflappable nature of this group. But maybe the Sharks will take something from this improbable win and bring something new to the table in Game 6.
They have been given new life, new hope, and that can be a dangerous thing.
"They were playing to try to get it back home," Crosby said. "I"m sure that was their mindset -- we definitely wanted to close it out here, but it didn"t happen and we"ve got to regroup and make sure we"re ready for the next one."
San Jose Sharks vs Pittsburgh Penguins. 2016 NHL Playoffs. SCF. Game 1. 05.30.2016. (HD)
PITTSBURGH What, me worry?
Sticks and stones may break bones, but calling Sidney Crosby a cheater will never hurt the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Trailing 2-0 in the series after a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 2 Wednesday night at the Consol Energy Center, frustrated Sharks winger Logan Couture, who has been a huge disappointment in the first two games of the Stanley Cup final, decided to throw a few darts in the direction of the Penguins captain.
It was Crosby who won the faceoff in the San Jose zone that led to the overtime goal. Upset that Crosby has been eating the Sharks pivots for lunch through the first two games of the series, Couture was asked why Sid the Kid has been so dominant in the circle?
He cheats, Couture said. He gets away with it. Hes Sidney Crosby.
Asked how he cheats, Couture indicated Crosby, who won 71 per cent of his faceoffs in Game 2, pushes the rules of the circle to the limit.
He times them and they dont kick him out for some reasons. Probably because of who he is, Couture said.
Given the fact these two teams did nothing but trade compliments for the first three days of the final, this was a big topic of discussion when Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan held a conference call with the media Thursday before the clubs flight to San Jose.
Finally, something to bite into, so to speak.
Well, at first, Sullivan refused to chew on the subject when he was asked if hed heard the nasty words from Couture?
I have no response to them, Sullivan said. My main concern is our hockey team and our mindset and our determination and the focus of our group. Thats where my main concern is and thats where Im going to use all my energy.
Crosby won 56 per cent of his faceoffs in the clubs 3-2 victory in Game 1, so it may be in the best interests of the Couture to try to do something to see if they can at least get the officials to take notice of what they consider a tactic.
Sullivan finally decided to shed a little more light on the situation after a query on whether the hes worried the officials might start looking to throw Crosby out of the circle because of Coutures accusations?
Sullivan noted every centre goes to whatever lengths they can to try to win a draw but doesnt believe Crosby is doing anything illegal.
Im not concerned at all about the officials, Sullivan said. All centres, when theyre taking faceoffs, theyre trying to get an edge. Thats just the reality of it. Theyre doing the same thing that our guys are doing. The way I look at it, thats all part of being a centre and trying to figure out ways to get an edge and be successful. So, Sids not doing anything that their guys arent doing.
Quite honestly, it really isnt worthy of a response. So, as I said before, my main focus is on our group and on our mindset going into this Game 3. We want to make sure we focus on the task at hand.
The task for the Sharks for games Saturday and Monday at SAP Center seems nearly impossible because San Jose has way too many no shows.
Top forwards Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Couture have had a minimal impact on this series. Sharks coach Peter DeBoer told reporters to hold off on the funeral after Game 2, but it wont take long to write the obituary if San Jose loses Saturday night.
Weve been good at home. We just have to win our home games. It puts more pressure on them, said Sharks goalie Martin Jones, who has kept San Jose from being completely embarrassed in the first two games.
The Sharks are now facing tough odds; since the Cup final changed to a best-of-seven format in 1939, teams with a 2-0 lead have gone on to carry the Cup in 44 of 49 series.
If the Sharks dont at least make a series out of this theyre only cheating themselves.
San Jose Sharks vs Pittsburgh Penguins. 2016 NHL Playoffs. SCF. Game 1. 05.30.2016. (HD)
By Laura Woods, Contributor
Game One of the Stanley Cup finals was held on Monday, May 30, at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Penguins took home the first win of the series, beating the San Jose Sharks 3-2. The teams meet again on Wednesday, June 1 for Game Two.
Approximately 2,000 tickets were sold for the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final with the lowest-priced seats for Game One listed from $255 to $331. For Game Three on Saturday, June 4, the series moves to the SAP Center in San Jose, where tickets have been listed for up to $920.
The first game of the Stanley Cup finals was a clash between Pittsburgh Penguins starslikeSidney Crosby, Matt Murray, Ben Lovejoy, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel and San Jose Sharks powerhouses like Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Brent Burns, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Martin Jones, Tomas Hertl and Paul Martin.
So, here"s a look at the net worths of the highest-paid hockey players for each team in the 2016 Stanley Cup and how they stack up against each other.
Pittsburgh Penguins Net WorthSidney Crosby Net Worth: $45 Million
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby has played in the NHL for 11 seasons -- all with the Penguins. Drafted right out of high school, he was the number one pick in the 2005 NHL Draft and became the youngest captain in NHL history in 2007. In addition to leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup victory in 2009, he also won two gold medals as part of Canada"s Ice Hockey team at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.
Crosby"s net worth is $45 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His salary is currently $12 million per year, and in 2015 he also earned $4.5 million in endorsements with Gatorade, Rogers Communications, CCM, Tim Horton"s, Upper Deck, Verizon and Frameworth -- making him one of the highest-paid players in the NHL.
Phil Kessel Net Worth: $14 Million
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel has played in the NHL for 10 seasons -- one with the Penguins, six with the Toronto Maple Leafs and three with the Boston Bruins. This is Kessel"s first trip to the Stanley Cup, butplaying in championship games is nothing new to him, as he earned a silver medal as part of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men"s Ice Hockey Team and also played on the team in the 2014 Olympic games.
Kessel"s net worth is$14 million.Despite ultimately being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015, Forbes named him the ninth highest-paid player in the NHL for the 2014-2015 season, after signing an eight-year $64 million contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafsin2013.
Matt Murray Net Worth: Unknown
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray is finishing up his first year in the NHL with a trip to the Stanley Cup. The star rookie had his first NHL shutout in his ninth pro game, taking down the New York Islanders on April 2, with a 5-0 score. The Penguins drafted Murray in 2012, and he spent the past two seasons on the club"s minor league team, the Wilkes-Barre Penguins.
Murray"s net worth is currently unknown, but his $2.78 million three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins expires in 2017, according to Spotrac. The rookie is currently earning approximately $925,000 per year. but if he continues to prove himself as an invaluable asset to the team, his fortune will likely see a swift increase when his contract is renewed.
Ben Lovejoy Net Worth: Unknown
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy has played in the NHL for 10 seasons -- including seven with the Penguins and three with the Anaheim Ducks. Nicknamed "The Reverend" by his teammates, after Reverend Lovejoy on the "The Simpsons,"the Dartmouth University alum was part of the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup.
Lovejoy"s net worth is unknown, but he"s currently in the final year of a $3.3 million, three-year contract, according to Spotrac, totaling an estimated $1.1 million per year.
San Jose Sharks Net WorthJoe Thornton Net Worth: $60 Million
San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton has played in the NHL for 19 seasons -- including eight with the Boston Bruins and the past 11 with the Sharks. Theformer Olympianisconsidered one of the greatest hockey players of the past two decades,and has waited 1,356 games to make it to his very first Stanley Cup run.
Thornton"s net worth is$60 million.In 2014, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Sharks worth an estimated $6.75 million per year.
Patrick Marleau Net Worth: $45 Million
San Jose Sharks left wing Patrick Marleau has played in the NHL for 18 seasons -- all of them as a Shark.His 964 career regular-season assists takes second place among players currently active in the league and his 481 goals make him the fifth-highest scorer of all-time.As a long-time Shark, this is the former Olympian"sfirst trip to the Stanley Cup.
Marleau"s net worth is$45 million.In 2014, he signed a three-year, $20 million contract extension with the Sharks, bringing his average salary to $6.66 million per year.
Brent Burns Net Worth: $30 Million
San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns has played in the NHL for 12 seasons --the first seven with the Minnesota Wild and the past five with the Sharks. This is hisfirst Stanley Cup run,but in 2015 he won a gold medal and was honored as best defenseman with Team Canada during the IIHF World Championships.
Burns" net worth is $30 million, according to The Richest.In 2011, he signed a five-year $28.8 million contract extension with the Sharks,which has paid out in the form of a $5.7 million annual salary since then.
Joe Pavelski Net Worth: $24 Million
San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski has played in the NHL for 10 seasons -- all with the Sharks. Known for his tough work ethic, the San Jose Sharks team captain is largely credited for bringing the team to its first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. No stranger to high-pressure games, Pavelski won a silver medal as part of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men"s Ice Hockey team and also played on the team in the 2014 Sochi games.
Pavelski"s net worth is $24 million. He reportedly signed a $30 million contract with the Sharks in 2014 -- with a $1 million signing bonus -- and earned a salary of $6 million in 2015.
Penguins vs. Sharks Net Worth: Who Wins?
Their skills on the ice have proven to be a solid match, but out of the rink, the San Jose Sharks" net worth seriously trumps that of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The net worth of the Sharks" top four players is $159 million, which is more than double the $65.08 million net worth of the four leading Pittsburgh Penguins. Only time will tell if the Sharks are simply overpaid or if their hockey moves are well worth their massive paychecks.
Penguins Winning Goal: Game One of the Stanley Cup 2016
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins. 2016 NHL Playoffs. ECF. Game 5. 05.22.2016. (HD)
Bryan Rust scored a pair of second-period goals and Matt Murray stopped 16 shots to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night to send the franchise to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2009.
Pittsburgh will host Western Conference champion San Jose in Game 1 of the final Monday night.
Jonathan Drouin scored his fifth goal of the playoffs for the Lightning and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 37 saves, but it wasn"t enough to send Tampa Bay back to the Cup Final for a second straight year. Captain Steven Stamkos had two shots in his return from a two-month layoff while dealing with a blood clot.
The Penguins avoided elimination with a borderline dominant 5-2 victory in Game 6 that provided a snapshot of the formula that fueled their rise through the Eastern Conference standings shortly after coach Mike Sullivan"s arrival in mid-December. Sullivan calls it "playing the right way," a way abetted by the influx of speed brought in by general manager Jim Rutherford. That group includes Rust, who forced his way onto the roster thanks to feverish skating and a relentlessness that belies his nondescript 5-foot-11 frame.
That effort or "desperation level" as captain Sidney Crosby calls it provided the Penguins with the boost they needed to overcome a bit of unfortunate history and the return of Stamkos. Pittsburgh had dropped five straight Game 7s at home, including a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay in 2011 in a series in which both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin missed due to injury. That loss had become symbolic of the franchise"s postseason shortcomings following that gritty run to the Cup in 2009 that culminated with a Game 7 win in Detroit that was supposed to be the launching pad of a dynasty.
Seven long years later, with an entirely new cast around mainstays Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz and Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins are finally heading back.
It hardly came easy. Vasilevskiy, a revelation while filling in for injured Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop, spent most of the night facing barrage after barrage as Pittsburgh controlled the puck and the pace of play for long stretches. Not even the return of Stamkos, who missed eight weeks while recovering from surgery to fix a blood clot near his right collarbone, could give Tampa Bay a boost as it sought a second straight appearance in the final round.
The 26-year-old practically chased Vasilevskiy onto the ice and played 11:55, his best chance coming on a breakaway in the second period in which his slap shot from the right circle hit Murray and trickled wide.
Yet he was outshone as was everyone else inside an electric Consol Energy Center by a 24-year-old who managed all of five goals in 55 regular season games, a total he"s matched in just 17 games during the postseason. And perhaps even more surprising than the amount of success Rust has enjoyed during the playoffs is when he"s done the most damage. He collected two goals and an assist in a series closeout win over the New York Rangers in the opening round.
Just over a month later, Rust was at it again.
He gave the Penguins the lead 1:55 into the second when he raced down the slot, took a feed from Kunitz and beat Vasilevskiy over his glove. Drouin"s fourth goal of the series tied it at 9:36 of the second, a wicked wrist shot from the circle that zipped by Murray and seemed to blunt Pittsburgh"s momentum.
Only it didn"t.
All of 30 seconds later, the Penguins were back in front. Ben Lovejoy"s slap shot from the point caromed off the end boards to the right of the net. Rust jabbed at it, squeezing it between Vasilevskiy"s left arm and his body.
The Penguins kept coming. Only the spectacular play of the 21-year-old Vasilevskiy kept the Lightning in it. Pittsburgh outshot Tampa Bay 21-5 in the second period alone, yet couldn"t extend its advantage.
Their season on the brink, the Lightning recovered but Murray never wavered. His teammates in front of him kept Tampa Bay from getting in his way and when the final horn blared, Pittsburgh"s metamorphosis from the blahs of December to the madness of May was complete.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins. 2016 NHL Playoffs. ECF. Game 5. 05.22.2016. (HD)
PITTSBURGH (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Tyler Johnson deflected Jason Garrisons wrist shot past Marc-Andre Fleurys glove 53 seconds into overtime to give the Lightning a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday night to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 6 is Tuesday night in Tampa.
Nikita Kucherov scored twice to boost his postseason total to an NHL-best 11 and Alex Killorn picked up his fifth of the playoffs as the Lightning handed the Penguins consecutive losses for the first time since January.
Brian Dumoulin, Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist scored for the Penguins, who lost for the first time all season when leading after two periods. Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves in his first start since March and couldnt get his hands on Johnsons redirect.
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) LIVE UPDATES:
11:10 p.m. Bolts beat Penguins in OT, leading the series. Game 6 is in Tampa Tuesday.
10:52 p.m. Overtime in Pittsburgh. Nikita Kucherov scores his second of the night with 3:15 remaining, sending the game to OT tied 3-3.
10:45 p.m. Kucherov scores to tie the game. Kucherov corrals a rebound and wraps it around, tucking it past Fleury. Were tied with just over 3 minutes to play
10:42 p.m. That puck stayed out. Callahan shot off the far post, rides the line, AND STAYS OUT. 3-2
10:41 p.m. Under 5 to go. Closing time for the Lightning, trailing 3-2
10:35 p.m. Vasilevskiy keeping his team within striking distance with a pair of solid stops. The Lightning have less than 8 minutes to even it up.
10:30 p.m. PIT out-shooting TB 25-17 halfway through the third period. Definitely one of the more tame games of this series.
10:21 p.m. Lightning doing a great job of blocking shots now. Both teams have been fearless in that department in a pivotal game 5.
10:18 p.m. Lightning with major pressure. Great keep by Garrison x2. Fleury bailing the Penguins out here. Johnson collides with Letang, and Johnny heads off for tripping. 4-on-4 now.
10:15 p.m. Lightning with a flurry of chances. TB is headed to the power play, as Maata high sticks Koekkoek. Koekkoek is bleeding. Thats 4 minutes.
10:12 p.m. Statistical anomaly of the night: Evgeni Malkin is 8-and-1 in the face-off circle through two periods.
9:55 p.m. Through 2 periods, the Penguins lead the Lightning 3-2. Goals by Dumoulin, Hornqvist, Killorn, Kucherov, and Kunitz. Shots are 21-13 PIT. The Lightning were the better team in the second period, but its a wash as each squad strikes twice.
9:52 p.m. Penguins score late in the second period, taking 3-2 lead over Bolts. Outstanding spin by Malkin to keep the play alive. He throws to the net, and Kunitz is there to punch home the rebound.
9:42 p.m. You felt it coming. The Lightning have controlled this period. Gorgeous set-up by Namestnikov, Kuch hits the empty net. 2-2.
9:40 p.m. Immediately after killing the Kucherov penalty, Killorn snipes one from an awful angle. Top shelf, and its 2-1.
9:37 p.m. Crazy sequence Great stop by Vasilevskiy. Thought he had the puck. He didnt. Penguins fire from the point and Vasi somehow stops it.
9:33 p.m. Lightning coming to life here, but the Penguins are hanging tough. Cole just made a great play to block a Killorn centering feed. Kucherov headed to the box for interference. A chance for the Penguins to re-assert control of this game.Penguins power play gets another chance; PIT leading 2-0 with 8:58 left in the second.
9:29 p.m. Letang heads to the box. Two minutes for slashing. The Lightning will get their first power play, coming up. Fleury OUTSTANDING toe save on Johnson. Flawless set-up by Hedman. Fleury getting a standing ovation here at Consol
9:26 p.m. Slater Koekkoek was impressive in this series. Playing with a quiet confidence, and earning more ice time. Fleury stops Drouin; his best save of the night.
9:22 p.m. Crosby probably just got away with hauling down Namestnikov. Looked like a hook there
9:21 p.m. Vasilevskiy waffle-boards away a chance in front. Penguins are coming on hard. This game is at a tipping point.
9:18 p.m. Excellent puck movement by the Penguins. Crosby out-works Sustr, feeds Maata, to Hagelin, touch pass to Hornqvist. 2-0 PIT. #HBKLine puts in another solid shift. The Lightning are on their heels here Being out-shot 11-4 so far
8:53 p.m. Domoulin scores with 1 second remaining in the period. Outstanding effort by Cullen to break away at the end of a long shift. Dumoulin trails, buries the loose rebound. Through one period, the Penguins lead the Lightning 1-0 thanks to a Brian Dumoulin goal with 7 seconds left in the first. That Dumoulin goal is partially Stralmans fault. Instead of shooting, dumped it into the corner. Killorn lost a battle, ended up in TB net. Thats Brian Dumoulins first goal since December 15. 2014 When he scored against the (you guessed it) Lightning.
8:50 p.m. Nice play by Bonino to break up a play in the d-zone, then Vasilevskiy ROBS him with the pad after Kessel centers it.
8:45 p.m. With 5:55 left to go in the first, the game is still 0-0. Shots are 4-3 PIT. This isnt the run-and-gun game weve seen in this series.
8:39 p.m. Lightning kill off the Johnson penalty without incident. Really no quality chances for the Penguins there.
8:38 p.m. Crosby skies a chance. Penguins are simply not shooting the puck tonight. Just 2 shots apiece so far. Malkin one-timer, but Vasilevskiy is square and absorbs it. No traffic in front of the Lightning net.
8:34 p.m. Crosby slides to a knee after getting hooked *a little* by Jonhson. Penguins go to the PP.
8:29 p.m. Drouin got caught with his head down looking for a puck, just like in that NYI series. Fehr absolutely leveled him. Fehr hit on Drouin was clean. Stayed on his skates, drove him right in the shoulder.
8:28 p.m. Vasilevskiy already had two hair-raising incidences trying to play the puck behind his net. The Bolts miss Bishop there.
8:25 p.m. Kuhnhackl gets dumped in the corner. Fans want a penalty, but they mustnt have seen Kuhnhackl holding the stick all the way down
8:23 p.m. Definitely a feeling out period in the first 5 minutes. The Penguins fail to seize that early home ice advantage. 0-0, shots 1-1. Silly turnover in front of the Penguins cage gives Johnson a huge chance, but Fleury stands tall.
8:21 p.m. Golden chance for Carle. Drew Fleury out of the net and had a gaping cage to shoot at Launched it high.
8:20 p.m. Lightning just got away with too many men on the ice. Results in partial breakaway for Callahan, but Fleury rejects him.
8:17 p.m. Boyle turnover leads to a prime chance for the line, but one-too-many passes results in no shot on net.
8:15 p.m. The puck drops in Game 5.
8:00 p.m. Game 5 starts at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
YOUR PHOTOS: Bolts Pride Road to the Cup
The goaltender Ben Bishop and the captain Steven Stamkos will not play in Game 5. Bishop participated in the optional morning skate. Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan says the veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will start Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final on tonight against Tampa Bay.
Bolts coach Jon Cooper said about Bishops return: You have to trust the player Ultimately, its up to them.
On Friday, in Game 4, the Lightning evened the Eastern Conference Final at 2-2. In Game 4,Ryan Callahan provided an early spark, Andrei Vasilevskiy made two big saves in the closing minutes to avoid a total third-period collapse. The Tampa Bay Lightning held on for a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bolts coach Jon Cooper said at the press conference after the game that he felt his team deserved to be where they are.
I didnt think we ever lost control of the game, he said. But I was never sitting there saying this game is in trouble for us.
The teams return to Pittsburgh Sunday for Game 5. Theyll be back in Tampa Tuesday for Game 6. Game 7 would be Thursday in Pittsburgh.
ROAD TO THE CUP 2016: Bolts vs. Penguins
View as listView as galleryOpen Gallery
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Pre-game 5 optional skate
Pre-game 5 optional skate
Game 4 vs Pittsburgh
Game 4 vs Pittsburgh
Game 4 vs Pittsburgh
Game 4 vs Pittsburgh
Game 4 vs Pittsburgh
The Consol Energy Center
Coach Cooper didn"t smile for our camera
Bolts" captain Steven Stamkos made the trip to Pittsburgh
Injured Bolts Stamkos, Stralman, and Brown watch from the bench
Injured Bolts Stamkos, Stralman, and Brown watch from the bench
The Lightning gather up to listen to coach Cooper.
Ryan Callahan and Val Filppula screen Ben Bishop, as a photographer Jay Mac poses in the background.
Lightning group shot, minus the absent Mike Blunden.
Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury taking shots at Game 1 morning skate.
Former Lightning asst. coach Rick Tocchet, leading drill at Game 1 skate.
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party
WFLA watch party Game 2
WFLA watch party Game 2
WFLA watch party Game 2
WFLA watch party Game 2
WFLA watch party Game 2
WFLA watch party Game 2
WFLA watch party Game 2
ROAD TO THE CUP 2016: Bolts vs. Penguinsx
ThumbnailsGallery
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Pre-game 5 optional skate
Pre-game 5 optional skate
Coach Cooper didn"t smile for our camera
Bolts" captain Steven Stamkos made the trip to Pittsburgh
Injured Bolts Stamkos, Stralman, and Brown watch from the bench
Injured Bolts Stamkos, Stralman, and Brown watch from the bench
The Lightning gather up to listen to coach Cooper.
Ryan Callahan and Val Filppula screen Ben Bishop, as a photographer Jay Mac poses in the background.
Lightning group shot, minus the absent Mike Blunden.
Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury taking shots at Game 1 morning skate.
Former Lightning asst. coach Rick Tocchet, leading drill at Game 1 skate.
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Lightning skate practice on Game day
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Getting ready for Game 5 Watch Party
Pre-game 5 optional skate
Pre-game 5 optional skate
Coach Cooper didn"t smile for our camera
Bolts" captain Steven Stamkos made the trip to Pittsburgh
Injured Bolts Stamkos, Stralman, and Brown watch from the bench
Injured Bolts Stamkos, Stralman, and Brown watch from the bench
The Lightning gather up to listen to coach Cooper.
Ryan Callahan and Val Filppula screen Ben Bishop, as a photographer Jay Mac poses in the background.
Lightning group shot, minus the absent Mike Blunden.
Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury taking shots at Game 1 morning skate.
Former Lightning asst. coach Rick Tocchet, leading drill at Game 1 skate.
2016 ECF Game 3 - Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning May 18th 2016 (HD)
PITTSBURGH, PA: Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final with a score of 4 to 3 during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 22, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Matt Kincaid/Getty Images
Image copyright 2016 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning. 2016 NHL Playoffs. ECF. Game 3. 05.18.2016. (HD)
(Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
May 19th, 2016 BY Mike Necciai
General Manager Jim Rutherford announced today that the Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled two defensemen, five forwards and one goalie from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Steve Oleksy and Tim Erixon are the two defensemen Pittsburgh added to their NHL club with Daniel Sprong, Dominik Simon, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Josh Archibald and Kael Mouillierat rounding out the forward group. Pittsburgh also brought Tristan Jarry back who had already served as backup to Jeff Zatkoff early in round one.
The mass recall is possible due to Wilkes-Barre being eliminated from the AHL playoffs earlier this week. There is no salary cap for NHL teams in the postseason, so Pittsburgh doesnt need to worry about financial implications.
Its unlikely that anyone from this group will see the ice, though Patric Hornqvists hand injury could mean someone slotting in if hes forced to miss time. The most notable name is rookie Daniel Sprong who played 18 games for the Penguins this season prior to being sent back to juniors. When his QMJHL team was eliminated from the playoffs, he joined Wilkes-Barre for their postseasonrun.
He scored two goals with the Penguins earlier this year. After joining Wilkes-Barre for the playoffs, he tallied five goals and seven points in 10 games.
