Check out some of Rick’s online stuff:
Radio Live Sport – New Zealand: Sidney Crosby’s Latest Return (starts 6:20 mark) 03/18/2012
Radio Live Sport – New Zealand: Sidney Crosby’s Return 11/28/2011
Newstalk 570 WKBN: Interviewed by Mike Romigh 11/21/2011
Pittsburgh Trib-Review: Newsmaker: Rick Buker 11/12/2011
Podcast: LCS Hockey Radio Show from 10/15/2011
Podcast: LCS Hockey Radio Show from 4/9/2011
About Rick:
As a kid growing up in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, I was an avid baseball and basketball fan. I recall my grade-school buddies talking about Penguins players like Glen Sather, Ron Schock, and “Bugsy” Watson, but I paid little attention to hockey until I was in my teens.
When I was 15 years old I had emergency surgery to remove a ruptured appendix. During my two-week stay in St. Clair Hospital my grandmother, Miriam Arbuthnot, came to visit me every day. She brought me a bunch of sports magazines to help pass the time.
One of the magazines was a 1972-73 hockey annual. It featured complete statistics for all the NHL teams—including the Penguins. As I poured over the stats I became really intrigued. I especially loved the names of French-Canadian players like Jean Pronovost.
It just so happened that one of the TV networks televised a Penguins-Bruins game while I was in the hospital. I remember there was a big brawl involving two of our players, Duane Rupp and Darryl Edestrand. In an instant I was hooked.
I began to follow the Penguins religiously. In the early 1990s I decided to try and write a book about the team. I started doing research at the Carnegie Library during my spare time, combing through old microfilm files of newspaper articles.
Slowly but surely I began to fashion what eventually became my first published book—Total Penguins—a comprehensive team history featuring season-by-season summaries, player profiles and stats, bios on all of the coaches, general managers and owners, and lots of photos from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette archives.
In 2010, I was fortunate to get a publishing deal for a second book, 100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. It’s chock-full of bios, stories, and anecdotes from the team’s rich and colorful history.
Since then I’ve been blogging for PenguinPoop, writing game summaries, player profiles, commentaries, and history pieces. It’s truly a labor of love.
…
Be sure to check out Rick’s new book, “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” at TriumphBooks.com. It features 296 pages of bios, stories, anecdotes and photos from the team’s colorful past in a compelling, easy-to-read style. Whether you’re a die-hard booster from the days of Jean Pronovost or a big fan of Sid and Geno, this book is a must have for any true Penguins fan.
Don’t forget to check out Rick’s first book, “Total Penguins,” at TriumphBooks.com. A complete and comprehensive book on the team’s rich and storied history, it’s filled with season-by-season summaries, player profiles and stats, bios on coaches, general managers and owners, photos from the “Post-Gazette” archives, and much, much more.
Rick’s books also are available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and at Barnes and Noble bookstores.
All Articles:
Penguins Okay with Second Best
After reading Phil Krundle’s passionate, well-thought, and superbly crafted feature on the state of the Penguins (and coach Dan Bylsma), I almost…
Penguins Update: Fleury, Fleury?
I know it seems like I have a vendetta against Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Honestly, I don’t. But I was checking out some stats and stumbled…
Penguins Update: No Joy in Mudville
It’s been several days since Boston swept our beloved Penguins from Stanley Cup competition. In my mind, here are seven factors that led to the…
Penguins Update: Bylsma Pushes the Right Buttons
There’s an old adage in sports—ride the horse that brung ya.’ (Or something like that.) Thank goodness Penguins coach Dan Bylsma paid it no…
Penguins Replace Fading Flower for Game 5
Before I begin, I must confess that it pained me to write this piece. The last thing I want to do is be hard on a player—in this case Penguins…
Are Penguins Doomed to Repeat History?
During a recent interview with Craig Adams, Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked the Penguins forward if he thought history might play…
Penguins Update: No To-Morrow for Brenden
With all due respect to Jarome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen, and Douglas Murray, my favorite Penguins acquisition at the 2013 trade deadline was Brenden…
No Jokin[en]: Penguins’ Jussi for Real
When Penguins GM Ray Shero acquired veteran Jussi Jokinen from Carolina at the trade deadline for a conditional draft pick it almost seemed like an…
![images[1]](http://www.penguinpoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/images1-100x100.jpg "Permalink to: Ex-Penguins Update: April 6, 2013")
Ex-Penguins Update: April 6, 2013
Here’s a quick glance at how former Penguins are faring throughout the NHL. Stats are updated through Friday, April 5. Forwards and…
Penguins History: Pat Boutette
As a rookie hopeful fresh out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Pat Boutette received a baptism by fire … from his own teammate. While trying…
Penguins Need Malkin More Than Ever
There’s a rather ominous Bible verse in the book of Hosea that warns, “… they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” While I…
Penguins Update: A Funny Thing Happened on the Road to the Cup
It sure is a wonderful time to be a Penguins fan. With a little help from friends Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby has reestablished…
Penguins Update: Lose One for the Gipper
As he lay dying of pneumonia in 1920, Notre Dame All-American George Gipp called to his coach, Knute Rockne, who was keeping a vigil by his bed…
Penguins Update: Shero Paves the Way for a Stanley Cup
Say this about Penguins GM Ray Shero. He sure doesn’t wait for an invitation to join the party. In a pair of bold moves that preempted the…
Penguins Update: Time to Trade Malkin?
There was a time when the thought of trading superstar Evgeni Malkin would’ve seemed so preposterous that it wouldn’t have entered my mind. After…
Penguins Update: Eaton at Home on Penguins’ Defense
The Penguins didn’t hold a special press conference to announce his signing. Nor did his arrival on February 25 create a huge media buzz. Yet when…
Penguins History: Bob Paradise
It might come as a surprise for Penguins fans to learn that a Hall-of-Fame defenseman skated for the team in the mid-to-late 1970s. No, it wasn’t…
Black-and-Gold Update: Penguins Show Tons of Heart in Victory Over Philly
They say confession is good for the soul. If so, I must confess here and now that this isn’t my favorite Penguins team. I think they’re too…
Penguins’ Defense Rests
Is it me, or did the Penguins’ 6-5 loss to Philadelphia Wednesday night look eerily familiar? It was almost as if we entered a space/time vortex…
Ex-Penguins Update
Here’s a quick glance at how former Penguins are faring throughout the NHL. Stats are updated through Friday, February 15. Forwards and…
Pittsburgh Penguins History: Moe Mantha
He was involved in two of the highest profile trades in Penguins history. What’s more, he’s ranked sixth on the team’s all-time list of highest…
Plug ‘N’ Play Penguins Too Predictable?
For the past couple of seasons I’ve watched with increasing alarm as the Penguins have downsized (and defanged) in order to better fit Dan…
Penguins Free-Agent Plans Go Pfft
It wasn’t supposed to work out this way. Thanks to a pair of bold trades by Penguins GM Ray Shero at the Entry Draft that freed up millions in…
Penguins Update: Malkin the Magnificent
Back in 1963 Avis was determined to pry rent-a-car sales away from its giant rival Hertz. So president Robert C. Townsend devised a catchy new slogan…
Penguins Update: History Repeating Itself
In nature everything runs in cycles. Seasons change from winter to spring to summer to fall, and back again. The same holds true in sports.…
Penguins Must Wait ‘Til Next Year
As a long-time Penguins fan, writing the summary for yesterday’s Game 6 loss to the Flyers was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It…
Flyers Throttle Penguins 5-1, Advance to Second Round
The Sports Illustrated jinx is alive and well. Seven days after SI posed the question—“Who Will Stop the Penguins?”—on the cover of its April…
Flower Powers Penguins Past Flyers 3-2
During the first four games of their incendiary opening-round series, the Penguins and Flyers provided enough fireworks to rival any Fourth of July…
Penguins Show Heart, Destroy Flyers 10-3
The objective in any survival situation is to adapt, adjust, and overcome. With their playoff lives on the line the victory-starved Penguins achieved…
Penguins Get an ‘A’ for Atrocious
I’ve been a die-hard Penguins fan for nearly 40 years. During that span there have been precious few times—especially since the arrival of Mario…
Flyers Outclass Penguins 8-4
Prior to the “Battle of Pennsylvania,” Flyers forward Scott Hartnell boldly proclaimed, “It’s going to be a bloodbath.” The Philly…
Can the Penguins Beat the Flyers?
After watching Philadelphia cut through the black and gold like a knife going through a tub of warm butter in Games 1 and 2, the question on…
Flyers Torch Penguins 8-5 in Barnburner
It’s no secret the Penguins and Flyers have one of the most heated rivalries in all of sports. But they also play some incredibly entertaining…
Penguins Update: Flyers A Lot Like Smokin’ Joe
The recently departed Joe Frazier was one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of all-time. Known as Smokin’ Joe for his relentless…
Flyers Feast, Penguins Fizzle in Game 1
One of these days the Penguins are going to figure out how to play 60 minutes of solid hockey against the archrival Flyers. Steel City fans better…
The History of the Penguins vs Flyers Rivalry in Six Easy Steps
Have you ever wondered how the bitter rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers got started? Published author &…
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers 2012 Playoff Predictions
We have a saying here at PenguinPoop that “We have more hockey knowledge in our body than you have in your entire pinky“, that just being a…
Malkin Gets 50, Penguins Dump Flyers 4-2
For a game that was meaningless in terms of its impact on the standings, Saturday afternoon’s contest between the Penguins and Flyers sure caused a…
Penguins Crunch Rangers 5-2, Clinch Fourth Seed
The Penguins passed a big test against the Rangers as they tuned up for the Stanley Cup playoffs at CONSOL Energy Center on Thursday night. Fueled by…
Penguins Update: Quote of the Week
In the wake of the Penguins-Flyers game-ending brawl on Sunday—which featured a heated verbal exchange between Philly coach Peter Laviolette and…
Crosby Nets Two as Penguins Bop Bruins 5-3
While it wasn’t exactly an ode to better puck management, the Penguins rebounded from a galling loss to the Flyers to whip the equally tough…
Flyers Rally, Smoke Sputtering Penguins 6-4
In all likelihood the Penguins and the Flyers will clash in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs during the very near future. If Sunday’s…
Penguins Doin’ Fine without Jagr
As our Penguins prepare to battle archenemy (and likely first-round playoff opponent) Philadelphia on Sunday, I thought it might be a good time to…
Crosby, Penguins Carve Up Sabres 5-3
Fresh off a pair of dismal losses to the New York Islanders, the Penguins traveled to Buffalo to take on the Sabres at First Niagara Center on Friday…
Bailey, Okposo Power Islanders Past Penguins 5-3
In the wake of his team’s sloppy 5-3 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma clearly wasn’t a happy camper. He made it plain…
Penguins Update: Bylsma a Dapper Dan
To say Dan Bylsma has accomplished a lot during his three-plus seasons as Penguins coach would be an understatement roughly the size of Texas. In his…
Penguins History: Eddie “The Entertainer” Shack
He wasn’t the best player to don a Penguins jersey. Not by a long shot. But few players in the history of the National Hockey League ever generated…
Islanders Ice Penguins 5-3
“There are three kinds of lies,” celebrated 19th-Century author Mark Twain was fond of saying. “Lies, damned lies, and…
Penguins Rebound, Whip Devils 5-2
As they prepared to square off at CONSOL Energy Center for Sunday night’s tilt, both the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils felt they had…
Penguins Update: Fleury’s Got Hart
Lately, the CONSOL Energy Center faithful have taken to chanting “MVP” whenever Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin torches an opposing goalie with…
Senators Chill Hot Penguins 8-4
Entering Saturday night’s contest with the Penguins at Scotiabank Place, the backpedaling Ottawa Senators had lost three straight, including an…
Penguins Maul Predators 5-1
When the Nashville Predators rolled into town to take on the Penguins in a big cross-conference tilt on Thursday evening, all eyes were focused on an…
Penguins Update: Cooke Reclaims Lost Season
When Penguins winger Matt Cooke received his team’s Masterton Trophy nomination last Saturday, it provided a well-deserved moment of vindication.…
Big Guns Roar as Penguins Pound Jets 8-4
Two days after swallowing perhaps their most bitter defeat of the season at the hands of archenemy Philadelphia, the Penguins vented their…
Flyers Stun Penguins 3-2 in Overtime
Just when it seemed as if the Penguins might never lose another game, the bottom fell out against the archrival Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on…
Penguins Update: Dupuis Simply Super
I’ll never forget the day (Feb. 26, 2008 to be exact) when the Penguins acquired Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from Atlanta at the trade deadline…
Piping-Hot Penguins Demolish Devils 5-2
Entering Saturday’s matinee contest with New Jersey on St. Patrick’s Day, the Penguins could be forgiven if they were hoping for a little luck…
Should the Penguins Call Up Steve MacIntyre?
I was mulling over the Penguins’ huge division rivalry game versus the Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden when a thought popped into my head.…
Penguins History: Randy Cunneyworth
During the mid-1980s, then-Penguins general manager Eddie Johnston worked hard to build a competitive team around budding superstar Mario Lemieux.…
Penguins Update: Adams a Keeper
You won’t find Craig Adams on any All-Star ballots. Nor will you see his name listed among the NHL scoring leaders—or among the top Penguins…
Penguins Win Ninth in a Row: Blast Bruins 5-2
As the old saying goes, “the bigger they are the harder they fall.” The adage certainly held true during Sunday afternoon’s matinee battle…
Penguins Trim Panthers 2-1 on Neal’s Shootout Winner
Missing three regulars on defense, the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a spirited effort by the Florida Panthers—not to mention a superb 33-save…
Dupuis Shines as Penguins Rake Leafs 3-2
With temperatures hovering magically at 66 degrees, the Penguins unveiled a magnificent statue of their owner and all-time greatest player, Mario…
Penguins Nip Coyotes 2-1
In a battle of two of the NHL’s hottest teams, the Pittsburgh Penguins rode another stellar effort by goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a crisp 2-1…
Penguins Rocky Mountain High in 5-1 Win
Entering Saturday night’s contest at the Pepsi Center (a.k.a. “the Can”) both the Penguins and the Colorado Avalanche were on a bit of a roll.…
Inspired Penguins Dim Stars 4-3
Throughout Dan Bylsma’s tenure as coach the Penguins have displayed unflinching character in the face of overwhelming adversity. As so it was…
Penguins Deadline Deals: Doozies ‘n’ Duds
Although it’s a little bit after the fact, here’s a quick sampling of the Penguins’ five best (and worst) deadline deals. The trades had to…
Penguins Stand Pat at Trade Deadline
Sometimes in hockey it’s the trades you don’t make that can best help your team. And so it was with Penguins general manager Ray Shero. As the…
Penguins Starch Blue Jackets 4-2
Entering Sunday afternoon’s contest with Columbus at CONSOL Energy Center, the Penguins were keenly aware of their recent penchant for tanking in…
Super Geno Powers Penguins Past Lightning 8-1
Look … up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s “Super Geno!” Okay, maybe likening Penguins center Evgeni Malkin to Superman…
Penguins History: Robert Lang
As a member of the illustrious draft class of 1990 that included Penguins prodigy Jaromir Jagr, Robert Lang was projected to be a star. Indeed, the…
Penguins Flower Power Stymies Rangers
Entering Tuesday night’s contest between the Penguins and Rangers at CONSOL Energy Center, much of the pre-game buzz focused on Rangers goalie…
Buffalo Shuffles Past Penguins 6-2
Fresh off an emotional victory over Philadelphia the day before, the Penguins traveled north to take on the slumping Buffalo Sabres with high hopes…
Penguins Cooke Crumbles Flyers 6-4
Once upon a time the Penguins used to come down with a strange malaise called the “Philly Flu” whenever they traveled cross state to take on…
Penguins Fall 2-1 in Battle of the Birds
It’s hard to imagine that a team blessed with elite players such as Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan could be on the outside of the NHL…
Penguins Update: 3rd Annual Paul J. Sciullo II Memorial Alumni Game
The 3rd Annual Paul J. Sciullo II Memorial Alumni Game will be held at McKnight Center (Shadyside Academy) in Fox Chapel on Saturday, February 18…
Penguins, Letang Lance Lightning 4-2
Who said Penguins can’t fly? Certainly not the Tampa Bay Lightning. Entering Sunday night’s contest at CONSOL Energy Center on a red-hot 7-1-2…
Penguins to Bolts: Let’s Make a Deal
With the NHL trade deadline looming just around the corner, I was scanning the Penguins’ roster this morning and thinking of ways to improve the…
Malkin Shines as Penguins Thrash Jets 8-5
The last time Winnipeg visited the Steel City on March 5, 1996, Petr Nedved scored four goals to lead the Penguins to a 9-4 rout of the Jets. On…
Penguins History: Jim Johnson
It’s somehow fitting that former Penguins defenseman Jim Johnson played his college hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. Indeed,…
Penguins Pay a Price; Fall to Habs in a Shootout
Entering Tuesday night’s contest at the Bell Centre, the Penguins had a chance to accomplish something they’ve never done during their 45-year…
Devils Deflate Penguins 5-2
In 1978 rocker Bruce Springsteen collaborated with Jersey shore pal Southside Johnny Lyon on the tune Trapped Again. Although “the Boss”…
Penguins Rattle Bruins 2-1
Entering Saturday afternoon’s matchup of Eastern Conference heavyweights at TD Garden, both Pittsburgh and Boston were experiencing goal-scoring…
Toronto’s MacArthur Parks Penguins 1-0
Just when it seemed the high-flying Penguins might never lose, Toronto snapped the black-and-gold’s eight-game winning streak Wednesday night in a…
Penguins Burn Leafs 5-4 in Shootout
I’ve pretty much given up trying to come up with superlatives to describe the Penguins’ 5-4 shootout win over Toronto at CONSOL Energy Center on…
Penguins All-Star Memories
Most Penguins fans are familiar with the All-Star exploits of Steel City superstars like Mario Lemieux. Indeed, those of us who are old enough will…
Penguins History: Duane Rupp
Next to Ron Stackhouse, perhaps no Penguin was less appreciated in his time than defenseman Duane Rupp. Ironically, the fans’ dissatisfaction…
Penguins Roll (to) Lucky Seven Against Blues
Hockey games can be an awful lot like shooting craps, especially when they go into overtime or a shootout. Games are won and lost on a single shot or…
Penguins Malkin-ize Capitals in OT
Ever since they were drafted No. 1 and No. 2 overall in 2004, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin have provided an intriguing contrast in styles—both…
Jeffrey and Malkin Shine: Penguins Beat Habs in a Thriller
In the midst of a roller-coaster season filled with desperate lows and equally dizzying heights, one thing about the Pittsburgh Penguins is certain.…
Penguins Topple Mighty Rangers 4-1
It’s hard to believe that scarcely seven days ago observers (like me) were ready to shovel dirt on the Penguins following their sixth-straight…
Penguins Edge ‘Canes 2-1 in Shootout
The Penguins continued to distance themselves from an ugly six-game slide with a crisp 2-1 shootout win over Carolina at CONSOL Energy Center on…
Penguins History: Keith McCreary
One of the earliest Penguins heroes, Vernon “Keith” McCreary typified the teams of the late 1960s and early 70s. While hardly a star, he was a…
Malkin, Penguins Short Circuit Lightning 6-3
The Tampa Bay Lightning entered Sunday afternoon’s contest with Pittsburgh lugging an unsightly six-game losing streak. If Guy Boucher’s crew was…
Penguins Bust Out Against Panthers 4-1
Hockey players are famously superstitious. Many suffer from triskaidekaphobia—a fear of the number 13. Fortunately, the Penguins aren’t among…
Pittsburgh Penguins First Half of the 2011/2012 Season Report
It's the halfway point of the Penguins season and right now the Penguins are in the midst of one of their biggest downturns in recent history. They…
Capitals Blank Penguins 1-0
The weather in Pittsburgh has been unseasonably warm in the New Year, with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees. It's a pity the same can’t be…
Senators Rout Reeling Penguins 5-1
Entering Tuesday night’s contest with Ottawa at CONSOL Energy Center, the Pittsburgh Penguins were in desperate need of a win. After climbing to…
What’s Ailing the Penguins?
Following a typically strong start to the 2011-12 campaign, the Penguins have stumbled along at an unsightly 13-13 clip since the end of October. As…
Tumbling Penguins Drop Fourth in a Row
For the past 11 days Dan Bylsma has patiently awaited the victory that would move him past Michel Therrien on the Penguins’ all-time list for…
Hot Rangers Melt Slumping Penguins 3-1
When the Penguins and New York Rangers clashed at CONSOL Energy Center on Friday night, it was a definitive case of two teams headed in opposite…
Penguins History: Battleship Kelly
In the annals of Penguins history, perhaps no player cultivated a more fearsome reputation—or earned a more colorful nickname—than left wing Bob…
Penguins Update: Don’t Forget the Kids
In the wake of the Penguins’ recent loss to the Flyers, I was struck by the pronounced difference in the makeup of the teams. While the Pens’…
Devils Sting Slumbering Penguins 3-1
Perhaps it was fitting that the Penguins closed out 2011 the way it began—with a disappointing 3-1 loss. After all, the year was none too kind to…
Jagr, Talbot Silence Penguins 4-2
Through the years Pittsburgh fans have become accustomed to watching Jaromir Jagr score big goals. So it was nothing new, really, to see No. 68 find…
Penguins-Flyers Rivalry Part 6: Sid versus Richy (2005-present)
For the third time during the course of the Pens-Flyers rivalry, the momentum shifted with the arrival of a superstar. Sidney Crosby would lead the…
Penguins-Flyers Rivalry Part 5: Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom (1994-2005)
Following a sorry sixth-place finish in 1991-92, the Flyers acquired the rights to phenom Eric Lindros from Quebec. Slowly but surely “the Next…
Pumped-up Penguins Steamroller ‘Canes 4-2
Contests between the Penguins and the equally swift Carolina Hurricanes usually feature lots of end-to-end action and plenty of shots. This time,…
Penguins-Flyers Rivalry Part 4: Super Mario and “the Streak” (1984-1994)
The Penguins were on life support when they drafted Mario Lemieux with the first overall pick in the 1984 Entry Draft. Although No. 66 would…
Penguins-Flyers Rivalry Part 3: Rise of the Broad Street Bullies (1972-1984)
The Pens-Flyers rivalry heated up during the early ‘70s, due in no small part to the emergence of “the Broad Street Bullies.” Armed with…
Penguins-Flyers Rivalry Part 2: The Early Years (1967-1972)
The seeds for “the Battle of Pennsylvania” were sown perhaps as far back as the mid-1960s. Upon learning of the National Hockey League’s…
Penguins-Flyers Rivalry Part 1: Roots (1925-1967)
Separated by only 300 miles of rolling Pennsylvania hills and grasslands, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are worlds apart in terms of culture. Situated…
Penguins Ground Jets 4-1
In certain parts of Canada the good citizens bid you a Joyeux Noel rather than a Merry Christmas. So it seemed altogether appropriate that the…
Penguins Update: Kunitz Solid Gold
When the Penguins signed Chris Kunitz to a two-year contract extension on October 13 worth $7.45 million, a hockey buddy of mine shook his head and…
Memories of a Penguins Fan: My First Hockey Hero
As a kid growing up in suburban Pittsburgh I was an avid sports fan. My dad Jim Buker had played baseball and basketball at Oliver High School. He…
Penguins Beat Blackhawks 3-2 in a Barnburner
It’s a darn shame the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks meet only once a year. Games between the two clubs invariably feature superb skill…
Penguins Update: Make Way for Despres
During the first half of the 2011-12 season the Penguins have suffered enough injuries to keep a hospital staff fully employed. Given the hailstorm…
Hungry Senators Hammer Penguins 6-4
During the first meeting between the Penguins and the Senators in Pittsburgh three weeks ago, Sidney Crosby initiated a nasty skirmish with feisty…
Red Wings Checkmate Penguins 4-1
During the Dan Bylsma era, Penguins fans are accustomed to seeing the home team post some gaudy numbers on the CONSOL Energy Center shot clock.…
More Book Signings: 100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die
On Saturday evening, December 17, Rick Buker will be signing copies of his latest book, 100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before…
Penguins Profile: The King of Engelland
To say Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland came up the hard way would be a vast understatement. Indeed, the rugged rearguard’s path to the National…
Penguins Flatten Islanders 6-3
Fresh off a pair of disappointing losses to Boston and Philadelphia, the Penguins entered Saturday night’s contest with the improving New York…
Flyers Topple Sid-less Penguins 3-2
In an effort to fare better in their quest for a Stanley Cup, the Philadelphia Flyers made wholesale changes over the off-season. Philly GM Paul…
Penguins History: Ken Schinkel
During the Penguins’ early years the Civic Arena faithful didn’t have a whole lot to cheer about. One of the few bright spots on an otherwise…
Bruins Overpower Penguins 3-1
Entering Monday night’s battle between Eastern Conference heavyweights at CONSOL Energy Center, both Pittsburgh and Boston were riding hot streaks.…
Baby Penguins Update
Here’s a quick glance at how the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are doing. The Baby Pens have a record of 12-7-5, good for a first place tie in the…
Penguins Circle the Wagons, Hold Off Hurricanes 3-2
In a game packed with all the drama of a classic shoot ‘em up Western, the Penguins overcame penalty woes and a furious last-minute barrage by…
Penguins Clip Capitals 2-1
Change is good, they say. So perhaps the Penguins felt heartened when they gazed at the Washington bench Thursday night at the Verizon Center and saw…
Rangers Chill Hot Penguins 4-3
The Penguins undeniably were excited about playing their first, honest-to-goodness division rivalry game of the season when they faced the New York…
Justice is Served, Penguins Nip Canadiens 4-3 in OT
Hockey players are taught from the time they lace up their first pair of skates to “play to the whistle.” Following the old adage to the hilt,…
Penguins Update: He’s Baaaack
It’s been a thrill to watch him again, hasn’t it? To see the Penguins’ center dangle with the puck in the slot, work the half-wall on the power…
Penguins Paste Senators 6-3
Just a few short seasons ago the Penguins and the Senators were one of the NHL’s marquee match-ups. It was Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Sergei…
Penguins Sing the Blues, Fall to St. Louis 3-2
Skating before a capacity crowd at CONSOL Energy Center on Thanksgiving Eve, the Penguins seemed anxious to get into the holiday spirit. So much so…
Penguins Update: Neal Deal a Steal
When Penguins general manager Ray Shero acquired promising power forward James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen from Dallas last February for Alex…
Sid Sizzles, Penguins Fry Islanders 5-0
The moment all of Pittsburgh—if not the entire hockey universe—anxiously awaited finally came to pass on Monday evening. After missing 61 games…
Ex-Penguins Update
Here’s a quick glance at how former Penguins are faring around the league. Stats are updated through November 19, 2011. Forwards…
Panthers Pounce on Skidding Penguins 3-2
Each year the Penguins invite the fathers to join their sons on a road trip. And while the “Dads’ Trip” is undoubtedly one of the most popular…
Bolts Zap Punchless Penguins 4-1
If you’d spent the past six months marooned on a tropical island and tuned into the Penguins-Lightning game at St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday…
Penguins Bury Avalanche 6-3
Beware all you unsuspecting NHL clubs. The banged-up Penguins are finally getting healthy. With 20-goal man Tyler Kennedy returning to action (and…
Penguins Need More from Martin
Through the first 17 games of the season Paul Martin has, quite literally, served as the Penguins’ defensive anchor. He’s registered a team-worst…
Stars Neal to Penguins 3-1
In a battle for overall supremacy in the league standings, the Penguins overcame an early deficit and two no-goal calls to torpedo Dallas 3-1 Friday…
Book Review of “Behind the Moves: NHL General Managers Tell How Winners are Built”
For anyone who’s ever fancied himself as a closet general manager, Behind the Moves: NHL General Managers Tell How Winners Are Built is an absolute…
Baby Penguins Update
Here’s a quick glance at how the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are doing. The Baby Pens have a record of 7-2-2, good for first place in the East…
Plug ‘N’ Play Penguins Crown Kings 3-2
Boasting an injury list that would keep a hospital staff fully employed, the plug ‘n’ play Penguins continue to find a way. Paced by Marc-Andre…
Penguins Update: Size Matters
In the wake of the post-lockout rule changes, there’s a popular notion that demon speed prevails in the new NHL. The Penguins certainly have…
Sharks Put the Bite on Penguins 4-3
Okay, so it ain’t exactly “the Streak,” when the Penguins went a dismal 0-39-3 in Philadelphia over an infamous 15-year stretch. But the black…
Penguins History: Colin Campbell
It’s somewhat ironic that former Penguin Colin Campbell earned lasting fame while serving as the NHL’s czar of discipline. After all, the rugged…
Ex-Penguins Update
Here’s a quick glance at how former Penguins are faring around the league. Stats are updated through October 29, 2011. Forwards and…
Maple Leafs Topple Penguins in a Thriller
In a game befitting a clash of Eastern Conference titans, the Penguins and Maple Leafs put on a show Saturday night for the 19,526 fans in attendance…
Penguins Catch a Wave, Surge Past Islanders 3-2
During the course of Thursday night’s telecast of the Penguins-Islanders game, it was duly noted that the black and gold hadn’t earned a comeback…
Fleury Ices Islanders as Penguins Prevail 3-0
To borrow a refrain from an old Aerosmith tune, the Penguins’ train kept a rollin’ at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Tuesday night. Buoyed by…
Penguins Update: In Shero We Trust
They say confession is good for the soul. And I must confess, here and now, that I was not pleased with the moves made by Penguins’ GM Ray Shero…
Penguins Bedevil New Jersey 4-1
It wasn’t supposed to be this easy for the Penguins. Not with top guns Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin out of the lineup and a murderous schedule…
Penguins Near Perfect in 3-1 Win Over Montreal
In the wake of the Penguins’ 3-1 win over Montreal at CONSOL Energy Center Thursday night, Dan Bylsma had every reason to feel positively giddy.…
Gritty Penguins Conquer Wild 4-2
A night after suffering perhaps their most disheartening loss of the young season, the gritty Penguins rebounded with an inspired effort to defeat…
Jets Soar Past Penguins 2-1
Following three dismal losses to open the season, Winnipeg Jets coach Claude Noel threw down the gauntlet for his struggling young team. “If…
Sabres Surprise Sloppy Penguins 3-2
Entering Saturday night’s contest at CONSOL Energy Center with Buffalo, the Penguins felt good about their chances. After all, the black and gold…
Capitals Clip Penguins in OT
After playing four games against opponents who hardly could be considered bitter foes, the Penguins and their faithful were treated to their first…
Book Review: Pucks On The ‘Net
If you’re a Penguins fan with an insatiable appetite for hockey, I’ve got a book for you. Renowned hockey history blogger Joe Pelletier shares…
Penguins Tame Panthers 4-2
It was a scenario with which the Pittsburgh Penguins have become all too familiar. The players skated onto the CONSOL Energy Center ice for the home…
Oilers Slip Past Penguins 2-1
After playing a quintessential road game for 55 minutes, the Penguins leaked for a late goal by rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and fell to the Oilers,…
Penguins Douse Flames 5-3
Powered by five goals from five different players, the Penguins overcame an early surge by Calgary to dump the Flames, 5-3, Saturday…
Penguins Nip Canucks in Shootout, 4-3
As season openers go, it wasn’t the prettiest of wins. Indeed, the Penguins blew a pair of two-goal leads while looking scrambled at times in their…
Book Review: 100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die
When I first learned that fellow PenguinPoop blogger Rick Buker had written a new book about the Pittsburgh Penguins, I must confess that I wondered…
Crosby Update: Penguins Patience a Virtue
Like all Penguins fans, I anxiously awaited Sidney Crosby’s press conference at the CONSOL Energy Center on September 7. While I hoped to receive…
Slap Shot: Who Were Those Guys?
Having cut my hockey teeth during the heyday of goon-squad hockey back in the 1970s, I’ve always had an affinity for the movie Slap Shot. With…
Penguins History: Demolition Durby
As a young hockey fan, I’ll never forget the day in January of 1974 that the Penguins acquired tough guys Steve Durbano and Bob “Battleship”…
Penguins History: Kjell Game
Following nine seasons in his native Sweden, Kjell Samuelsson ventured across the pond to join the New York Rangers in 1985-86. Standing 6’6” and…
Penguins Free-Agent Update: Rupp Leaves Big Hole
Although Mike Rupp’s departure didn’t receive much fanfare, losing the big forward to the Rangers creates an even bigger hole in the Penguins’…
Penguins Free-Agent Update: Good Riddance
When I first learned that the Penguins were entertaining the idea of bringing Jaromir Jagr back to the ‘Burgh, I must confess to having mixed…
Penguins Free-Agent Update: Au Revoir
Lost amid the turmoil of the Jaromir Jagr “my heart’s in Pittsburgh but my wallet’s in Philly” fiasco, Max Talbot signed a five-year deal…
Lightning Oust Penguins 1-0
Backed by the shutout goaltending of 41-year-old marvel Dwayne Roloson and a timely tally by Sean Bergenheim, the Lightning staved off a late charge…
Penguins Bylsma Needs to Earn His Spurs
I know it’s probably considered heresy in these parts to criticize Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. After all, the guy won a Stanley Cup in his first…
Lightning Down Penguins to Force Game 7
Paced by Dwayne Roloson’s sparkling 27-save performance and clutch goal scoring, Tampa Bay outslugged the gritty Penguins 4-2 to force a…
Amped-up Lightning Demolish Penguins 8-2
With their playoff backs to the wall, the Lightning’s big guns sprang to life to power Tampa Bay to an 8-2 rout of the Penguins. Simon Gagne,…
Penguins Fourth Line Hauls the Freight … and More
When Penguins general manager Ray Shero inked Arron Asham to a free-agent deal last summer, he wasn’t necessarily expecting big numbers. Indeed,…
Penguins Catch Lightning in a Bottle
James Neal scored 3:38 into the second overtime Wednesday night to propel the Penguins to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay. Thanks to Neal’s…
Bounce Back Penguins Top Lightning 3-2
What a difference a game makes. A mere 72 hours after a sloppy, disjointed effort in Game 2 that had Steel City fans (and their coach) scratching…
Penguins Playoff Update: Time for a Cool Change (or Two)
Being tied 1-1 with Tampa Bay after two games is hardly reason to push the panic button. And I’m certainly not advocating any kind of sweeping…
Lightning Singe Penguins 5-1
To borrow a refrain from an old Sam Cooke tune, “Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This.” And so it was for the Penguins in Game 2 of their…
Fleury Paces Penguins to 3-0 Win Over Lightning
Heading into Wednesday night’s encounter with Tampa Bay, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t have particularly fond memories of his last…
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning Playoff Predictions
The PenguinPoop prediction debate is on. For the first time that I can remember one of our writers is saying they think the opposing team will…
Penguins Torch Thrashers 5-2
The Penguins wrapped up the regular season Sunday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over Atlanta at Philips Arena. It was the fourth straight win for the…
Penguins Pay Back Islanders 4-3
Entering Friday night’s contest against the Islanders at Nassau County Coliseum, the Penguins had two goals. First and foremost, they needed a…
Dupuis Nets Two as Penguins Defeat Devils
Pascal Dupuis scored two goals, including an empty-netter with a minute left to play, to pace the Penguins to a 4-2 victory over New Jersey. The win…
Penguins Rally Past Panthers 4-2
Buoyed by Brent Johnson’s 28-save performance and timely goals from Tyler Kennedy, Pascal Dupuis, Zbynek Michalek, and Craig Adams, the Penguins…
Lightning Zap Penguins 2-1
In what amounted to a dress rehearsal of their opening-round playoff series, the Penguins dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Tampa Bay at the St.…
Losing Dustin Jeffrey Hurts
Dustin Jeffrey didn’t anticipate being an important cog in the Penguins’ machine this season. Indeed, the 23-year-old center figured to spend the…
Penguins Fall to Philly 5-2
In a battle for Eastern Conference supremacy, the Flyers rallied from an early one-goal deficit to down the Penguins 5-2. The loss snapped the…
Penguins Flatten Florida in Shootout
Buoyed by a sensational 37-save effort by Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins overcame another sluggish start to edge the Florida Panthers 2-1 in a…
Streaking Penguins Dump the Devils
Beating the nettlesome New Jersey Devils at their own game, the Penguins rode a 21-save shutout performance by Marc-Andre Fleury to a crisp 1-0…
Kunitz Leads Penguins Past Flyers
Chris Kunitz beat Sergei Bobrovsky for the game-winner during a shootout to pace the Penguins to a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia. The win pulled the…
Penguins History: Dave Schultz – If I Had A Hammer
During the summer of 1977, popular enforcer Bob "Battleship" Kelly signed a free-agent deal with Chicago, leaving the Penguins without a protector.…
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins--certainly not one Dan Bylsma and the Penguins’ coaching staff will use for instructional video. However, given…
Taking full advantage of overlapping third-period penalties, the Rangers rode a pair of power-play goals to a 5-2 victory over the Penguins before a…
Follow PenguinPoop
Follow @PPoopKrundle
Follow @ArtPenguinPoop
Follow @SouthsideShultz