SB Nation Pittsburgh - Penguins Vs. Islanders: Pens Go Down 5-3https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-03-30T08:00:55-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26762602012-03-30T08:00:55-04:002012-03-30T08:00:55-04:00Kris Letang Crucial To Penguins' NHL Playoff Success
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<p><span>Sidney Crosby</span> and <span>Evgeni Malkin</span> are obviously key to the success of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, but a healthy <span>Kris Letang</span> may mean even more to the Pens chances of lifting the Cup. After losing Thursday night to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">Islanders</a>, the Penguins have lost three of their last four, and it's no coincidence that Letang has been MIA for those games. Head Coach Dan Bylsma has<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/penguins/penguins-focus-on-regaining-defensive-edge-628609/" target="_blank"> lately been preaching to his players</a> about the importance of keeping the puck out of their own net. It seems the Pens have gotten goal-happy and shifted their focus away from protecting <span>Marc-Andre Fleury's</span> cage.</p>↵<p>A healthy Letang is critical to the Pens because he provides much more than stats. His value to the team is more than goals, assists, and plus/minus. Letang provides his partners a security blanket. Letang's speed and skating ability allow for his partners to be more comfortable pinching for pucks and keeping possession. His skating also allows for quicker puck movement, neutral zone rushes, and, subsequently, easier puck retrieval in the offensive zone. In Bylsma-speak, he allows the Pens to get to their game. And for all of his offensive abilities, Letang has turned into a great two-way defenseman. Letang is solid on the wall, strong on his skates, and can deliver a body blow with the best of them.</p>↵<p>It is obvious to me that the Pens miss Letang immensely. As good as <span>Simon Despres</span> (who I think is the next coming of Letang, and possibly even better) and <span>Ben Lovejoy</span> have been in spot starts, they do not allow for the same comfort level among teammates. Familiarity is key for a hockey club. The skills that Letang brings to the Pens are unique and greatly missed. If they want to go far in the playoffs, the Penguins need a healthy Kris Letang.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/3/30/2913020/penguins-islanders-kris-letang-injury-nhl-playoffsPat O'Mahony2012-03-29T21:39:51-04:002012-03-29T21:39:51-04:00Penguins Vs. Islanders Final Score: Pittsburgh Goes Down 5-3, Again
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> were trying to rebound from a 5-3 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> and trailed 3-1 heading into the final period of the game, only to once again go down to the Islanders by a score of... 5-3. Early in the third period, <span>Kyle Okposo</span> picked up a goal for New York to push their lead to 4-1. Pittsburgh was able to answer quickly however, as the Pens picked up goals from <span>Jordan Staal</span> and <span>Evgeni Malkin</span> to put the game at 4-3.</p>
<p>New York was able to finally put the game out of reach late in the third period though, with an unassisted empty net goal by <span>Josh Bailey</span> with just seconds left on the clock. The Penguins went down early and even lost <span>Sidney Crosby</span> in the third period due to a puck to the face, but they were able to rally in the third period, only to have it fall short.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pens, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com/">Pensburgh</a>. For more on the Islanders, there's <a href="http://lighthousehockey.com/">Lighthouse Hockey</a></i>. </p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/3/29/2912874/penguins-vs-islanders-score-final-sidney-crosbyAlfie Crow2012-03-29T21:34:58-04:002012-03-29T21:34:58-04:00VIDEO: Sidney Crosby Takes A Puck To The Face
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> star <span>Sidney Crosby</span> came back from dealing with a concussion, but late in the third period of the Penguins matchup with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> Crosby was hit in the face with a puck right after a face off, leaving a pool of blood in the ice.</p>
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<p>As you can see, the pick ricocheted right into Crosby's face and he went down clutching his face under his mask as blood covered the ice. The extent of Crosby's injury is unknown, but "The Kid" has dealt with quite a bit this past two seasons and this isn't something he wanted to deal with, especially with concussion issues. Crosby stepped in front of the puck to block and attempt to clear and just took one right in the face. It's doubtful that shot will cause Crosby concussion problems, but you don't want to take blows to the head at all when you've been dealing with them.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pens, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com/">Pensburgh</a>. For more on the Islanders, there's <a href="http://lighthousehockey.com/">Lighthouse Hockey</a></i>. </p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/3/29/2912854/video-sidney-crosby-injury-pittsburgh-penguinsAlfie Crow2012-03-29T20:46:24-04:002012-03-29T20:46:24-04:00Penguins Vs. Islanders Score Update: Pittsburgh Trails 3-1 Heading Into Third Period
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> entered Thursday night's matchup with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> hoping to get some revenge for a 5-3 loss on Tuesday night, but after two periods of play the Penguins trail the Islanders 3-1. New York struck first, as <span>Marty Reasoner</span> picked up his first goal of the season in the first period, assisted by <span>Mark Streit</span> and <span>Josh Bailey</span>.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh was able to tie the game in the middle of the second period however, thanks to a shorthanded goal by <span>Pascal Dupuis</span>, but the Islanders came roaring back before the close of the period. The Penguins surrendered two more goals in the second period, one to <span>Kyle Okposo</span> on a power play goal and one to Josh Bailey on a shorthanded goal. The Penguins have had more shots on goal than the Islanders, but <span>Marc-Andre Fleury</span> has had a rough night so far, giving up three goals already.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pens, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com/">Pensburgh</a>. For more on the Islanders, there's <a href="http://lighthousehockey.com/">Lighthouse Hockey</a></i>. </p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/3/29/2912784/penguins-vs-islanders-score-update-sidney-crosbyAlfie Crow2012-03-29T16:24:17-04:002012-03-29T16:24:17-04:00Brad Thiessen Reassigned To Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> backup goalie <span>Brad Thiessen</span> has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League, <a href="http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=624862&cmpid=pit-twt-pghpenguins" target="_blank">the team announced on Thursday</a> ahead of the game between the Penguins and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a>. <span>Brent Johnson</span> will return to the bench to back up <span>Marc-Andre Fleury</span> for the game.</p>
<p>Thiessen was 3-1-0 in his four starts with the Penguins, but those wins had a lot to do with the offense in front of him. He had a GAA of 3.72 and a save percentage of .858 in his time in the NHL. To be fair to Thiessen, the defense in front of him has been poor without <span>Matt Niskanen</span>. In the Penguins' last game against the Islanders, on Tuesday, Thiessen replaced Fleury after the starter allowed five goals. He stopped all seven shots he faced in the 5-3 loss.</p>
<p>It's been a rough season for Johnson, who has been out with an undisclosed injury. He's 3-7-2 with a 3.17 GAA and a save percentage of .882. He last appeared in a game on February 19, replacing Fleury in a 6-2 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a>. He last made a start on February 12.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pens, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com/">Pensburgh</a>. For more on the Islanders, there's <a href="http://lighthousehockey.com/">Lighthouse Hockey</a></i>. </p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/3/29/2912224/brad-thiessen-reassigned-pittsburgh-penguinsKim McCauley2012-03-29T09:11:26-04:002012-03-29T09:11:26-04:00Penguins Vs. Islanders: Pens Seek To Rebound In Rematch
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<p>The Pens lost at home to the Islanders on Tuesday. On Thursday night, they'll get another shot at them.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> will attempt to avenge their Tuesday home loss against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> with a matchup on the road Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. (ROOT Sports).</p>
<p><span>Marc-Andre Fleury</span> allowed five goals in two periods Tuesday, as <span>Frans Nielsen</span> piled up two goals and an assist.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Atlantic Division-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> on Tuesday and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Winnipeg Jets</a> on Wednesday, and they now have 105 points to the Penguins' 100.</p>
<p>The Pens have six games remaining to the Rangers' five, and the two teams do have one head-to-head contest left, on April 5. But the events of the last few days make it more likely that the Pens will take the fourth NHL Playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Defensemen Kris Letang and <span>Matt Niskanen</span> <a href="http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12089/1220240-61.stm">did not travel</a> to New York and will not play in the game against the Islanders or a Friday matchup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a>. Their injuries are undisclosed.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pens, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com">Pensburgh</a>. For more on the Islanders, there's <a href="http://lighthousehockey.com">Lighthouse Hockey</a></i>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/3/29/2910577/penguins-vs-islanders-time-tv-kris-letangCharlie Wilmoth