Murray shines in return to Pittsburgh as Leafs top Pens 5-2
PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Matt Murray helped the Pittsburgh Penguins raise the Stanley Cup in 2016 and again in 2017 as a young goaltender whose steadiness under pressure belied his age. Murray turned aside 34 shots, including several key stops to fend off a Pittsburgh surge to help the Toronto Maple Leafs pull away for a 5-2 victory Tuesday night. “I'm feeling great, really enjoying myself,” said Murray after his first game in Pittsburgh since being traded to Ottawa in October 2020. NOTES: Tavares is the fifth player to reach 400 goals while wearing a Maple Leafs sweater. Hall of Famer Mats Sundin hit 400 goals on Oct. 14, 2002, also against the Penguins.
wftv.comTavares scores 400th goal, Toronto races by Crosby, Pens 5-2
PITTSBURGH — (AP) — John Tavares scored his 400th goal, Matt Murray made 34 saves in his return to Pittsburgh and the Toronto Maple Leafs raced by the Penguins 5-2 on Tuesday night. Tavares added an assist on the night he became the 107th player in NHL history to reach 400 goals. Tavares briefly found himself unguarded high in the slot in the first period and Crosby closed too late. Bunting's first goal came on a 2-on-1 just 11 seconds into the second period as the Penguins briefly found themselves on their heels. NOTES: Tavares is the fifth player to reach 400 goals while wearing a Maple Leafs sweater.
wftv.comAvs goalie Darcy Kuemper leaves game after stick hits face
Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuemper yanked his mask off and fell to the ice holding his head after being struck by a stick Saturday. Replays showed Predators center Ryan Johansen's stick apparently poked through Kuemper's mask. Johansen watched a replay of the injury while standing at the boards.
news.yahoo.comInjuries could tip balance of some NHL first-round series
Penguins Rangers Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith makes a save against the New York Rangers in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)There was a 6-foot-4, 220-pound hole in the Washington lineup in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. Tom Wilson's injury is one of many around the NHL playoffs that could tip the balance of a series. Washington and Florida are tied going into Game 3 on Saturday (1 p.m. EDT, ESPN), though the first two were polar opposites. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comPenguins goalie DeSmith out for playoffs after core surgery
Penguins Rangers Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith makes a save against the New York Rangers in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)PITTSBURGH — (AP) — The rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff run won't include goaltender Casey DeSmith. Coach Mike Sullivan said DeSmith underwent core surgery on Friday morning and will miss the rest of the postseason. The surgery comes three days after DeSmith exited in the second overtime of Pittsburgh's 4-3 triple-overtime victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round series. DeSmith entered the playoffs as Pittsburgh's top goaltender with All-Star Tristan Jarry sidelined with a lower-body injury.
wftv.comPlayoff physicality creeps into crease to impact goaltenders
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)The physicality of the NHL playoffs is creeping into the crease. That can lead to officials calling goaltender interference, which can result in a 2-minute minor penalty or a disallowed goal. The issue emerged in a critical moment during the Pittsburgh-New York Rangers series opener, too. Tampa Bay, which has won eight consecutive playoff series, hasn’t lost back-to-back postseason games since being swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2019 opening round. Nick Leddy was held out of Game 2 with an upper-body injury he suffered and played through in Game 1.
wftv.com'It was just fun': Backup Domingue backstops OT win for Pens
NEW YORK — (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins went into the playoffs knowing they would be without starting goalie Tristan Jarry for at least the first couple of games. Domingue was watching an extraordinary duel between DeSmith and Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin when DeSmith suddenly had to leave the game late in the second overtime. Up next: Domingue, who had just had a meal of "spicy pork" between the first two extra sessions. “I saw him go to the bench and I wasn’t sure why they blew the whistle,” Domingue said. I'm pretty lucky to be playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
wftv.comMalkin's tip lifts Penguins past Rangers in 3OTs in Game 1
Penguins Rangers Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith makes a save against the New York Rangers in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)NEW YORK — (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored on a deflection 5:58 into the third overtime, giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night. Jake Guentzel scored twice and Bryan Rust had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist, and Adam Fox and Andrew Copp also scored for the Rangers. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in New York before shifting to Pittsburgh for two games.
wftv.comPenguins' All-Star goalie Jarry to miss start of playoffs
The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin their first-round playoff matchup with the New York Rangers without Tristan Jarry, though they haven't ruled out the All-Star's return before the end of the series. Head coach Mike Sullivan characterized Jarry as “day to day” but indicated Jarry would not be available when the best-of-seven series opens in New York on Tuesday. Jarry hasn't played since being diagnosed with a lower-body injury following a victory over the New York Islanders on April 14.
news.yahoo.comThe Latest: Northern Colorado not playing Big Sky football
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The University of Northern Colorado football program won’t participate in the Big Sky Conference and FCS spring championship season. The Big Sky pushed its football schedule from last fall to the spring in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Northern Colorado will develop a spring schedule more in line with traditional spring football practice and explore possible games against regional opponents that reduce risks associated with extended travel. ___North Carolina Central says it will opt out of a spring football season due to concerns about health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Eagles are part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Championship Subdivision, which delayed its football season until spring amid the pandemic.
Guentzel's winner lifts Penguins by Capitals 4-3 in shootout
DeSmith figured Ovechkin would try to fire one past him rather than deke his way to the net. DeSmith stayed upright as Ovechkin closed in and felt the familiar smack of rubber hitting him and not the net. “I thought our guys played hard in the second and third against a really good team,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. While Sullivan remains confident Jarry will be fine, he turned to DeSmith to help get Pittsburgh going. Washington went 1 for 4 on the power play, a tap-in goal by Backstrom in the second that gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead.