SB Nation Pittsburgh - Penguins Vs. Thrashers: Pens Stars Rest Before Playoffs, But Pens Defeat Atlanta 5-2https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-04-11T00:13:00-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18664692011-04-11T00:13:00-04:002011-04-11T00:13:00-04:00Penguins Vs. Thrashers: Pens Conclude Regular Season With A Meaningless Win
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> ended their regular season with a meaningless 5-2 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> on Sunday.</p>
<p>With their <span class="caps">NHL</span> playoff seed set at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference and with nothing left to play for, the Pens sat several stars, including goalie <span>Marc-Andre Fleury</span>, but they won handily anyway.</p>
<p><span>Andrew Ladd</span> scored the first goal of the game for the Thrashers, a power-play score in the first period. The second period, however, was dominated by the Penguins, as <span>Tyler Kennedy</span> (on the power play), <span>Pascal Dupuis</span>, Mike Rupp and <span>Mark Letestu</span> all scored to give the Penguins a 4-1 lead.</p>
<p>In the third period, <span>Tim Stapleton</span> scored a power-play goal for the Thrashers, and Pittsburgh’s <span>Mike Comrie</span> scored his only goal of the season with a meaningless empty-netter.</p>
<p><span>Brent Johnson</span> recorded 37 saves for the Pens, who ended their regular season with a 49-25-8 record. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> awaits.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/4/11/2103403/penguins-vs-thrashers-score-nhl-playoffsCharlie Wilmoth2011-04-10T15:10:24-04:002011-04-10T15:10:24-04:00Penguins Vs. Thrashers: Pens Rest Before Playoffs
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<p>With their first-round <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/4/9/2101583/nhl-playoff-matchups-penguins-vs-lightning">NHL playoff matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning already set</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> play their final game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> Sunday afternoon, and it's a meaningless one. (The only teams still battling for a playoff spot are the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a>, both in the Western Conference.) The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have won the Atlantic Division, so the Penguins are already set to be the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Several of the Penguins' top players <a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/11100/1138436-42.stm">will therefore sit out today</a>. <span>James Neal</span>, <span>Chris Kunitz</span>, <span>Jordan Staal</span> and <span>Marc-Andre Fleury</span> will all be out, while <span>Eric Tangradi</span>, <span>Chris Conner</span> and <span>Mike Comrie</span> will play.</p>
<p>Neal has what appears to be a hand or wrist injury, but Pens coach Dan Bylsma thinks he'll be ready for the playoffs:</p>
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<p>Coach Dan Bylsma, though, said he expects Neal to be ready for the start of the Penguins' first-round playoff series against Tampa Bay.</p>
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<p>The game begins at 3:00 PM Eastern.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/4/10/2333150/penguins-vs-thrashers-pens-rest-before-playoffsCharlie Wilmoth