Penguins Play the Blue Jackets and Rumor Round Up
Welcome to the THW Pittsburgh Penguins Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Penguins writers.
Today we look at tonight’s (Nov. 14) game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, trade rumors surrounding Rickard Rakell, and a review of NHL history, including the Penguins’ acquisition of Hall of Famer Tom Barrasso.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Penguins Gameday Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets 11/14/23
November 14, 2023 by George Majchrzak
On Saturday (Nov. 11), the Pittsburgh Penguins returned home to play the Buffalo Sabres after a successful swing through California, when they defeated the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings. Looking to keep the ball rolling, they knocked off the Sabres 4-0, with Tristan Jarry turning away 35 shots to earn his NHL-high third shutout of the season.
Tonight (Nov. 14), the Penguins are in Columbus to take on a 4-7-4 Blue Jackets team that has been struggling to get much going through this season. With 41 goals scored and 52 goals against, they rank 24th and 28th of the NHL’s 32 teams in each category. Winless in their last five games, the Blue Jackets are looking to turn things around after falling 4-3 in overtime to the Rangers in New York on Sunday (Nov. 12).
After a slow start of their own, the Penguins are now 7-6-0 and finally look to be clicking both offensively and, especially, defensively. Their 34 goals against ranks fifth in the league, and their 2.62 goals against average (GAA) ranks sixth. Not only that, but they have now shut out opponents twice in their last three games and four times this season, one of those a shared effort between Jarry and Magnus Hellberg.
Note: The Penguins have recalled forward Jonathan Gruden from Wilkes-Barre of the American Hockey League.
NHL Rumors: Oilers, Flames, Maple Leafs, Penguins
November 13, 2023 by Jim Parsons
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Edmonton Oilers made a coaching change. How much did the leadership group know about it? And, are the upper-level executives on the same page when it comes to the changes? Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames will work out trades on their own time table, but at least one player on the Toronto Maples has already spread the message to Nikita Zadorov that the Leafs would love to have him. Finally, are the Pittsburgh Penguins open to moving forward Rickard Rakell?
Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski recently noted in mailbag article that the Pittsburgh Penguins could be open to the idea of trading Rickard Rakell. The winger, currently grappling with a goal-scoring drought, has managed only three assists in 13 games this season. Despite being in the second year of a six-year contract with an annual value of $5 million, Kingerski speculates that Rakell might become a trade candidate.
Today in Hockey History: Nov. 12
November 12, 2023 by Matthew Zator
This has been a very interesting and busy date in NHL history. A legendary arena opened, a bitter rivalry began, and a whole slew of Hockey Hall of Famers had big moments throughout the years. So, let’s hop aboard the THW time machine and relive all the best memories made on Nov. 12.
In the spirit of the celebrations surrounding the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions this week, we note that the Penguins obtained goaltender Tom Barrasso from the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 12, 1988, in exchange for Doug Bodger and Darrin Shannon. Barrasso played in 460 games in Pittsburgh over 12 seasons and was the starting goaltender for their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 1991 and 1992.