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Penguins

Loss could be costly for Pens

By Will Graves The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been an NHL playoff fixture for the better part of two decades. It’s a run that’s produced three Stanley Cups, a near miss at another and likely fast-tracked all three franchise icons to the Hall of Fame. And now, it may finally be over. Buddy Robinson and Andres Athanasiou scored 26 seconds apart in the third period and the lowly Chicago Blackhawks dealt the Penguins’ playoff chances a significant blow in a 5-2 win on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh ...

Crosby reaches 1,500 in win over Detroit

DETROIT — Sidney Crosby became the 15th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 career points, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ crucial 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. “This is a team sport — that’s what we signed up for and that’s why we love this game,” Crosby said. “Maybe you get certain milestones that get you to reflect a little more, but right now I’m just thinking about our situation and what we still need to do. I’m happy to have been a part of all of this, but my mentality has always been to try to be my ...

Penguins keep pace with victory over Wild

By Will Graves The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — The pregame hype video that plays inside PPG Paints Arena before every Pittsburgh Penguins home game starts with the lyrics: “Nobody said it would be easy.” A prophetic choice for a team for which things used to come so easily. Dazzling goals. Victories. Playoff berths. Stanley Cups. Not anymore. Not for this team. Not during this trying season, anyway. Yet with their postseason hopes flickering, the Penguins responded with the kind of responsible, selfless borderline boring hockey they’ll need to rely on if they want to ...

Pens are limping to finish line

The Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils bounced back from their worst performance of the season with the help a 21-year-old second-year player. The young Devils also put a major dent in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ bid for a 17th straight Stanley Cup playoff berth. Dawson Mercer scored his first career hat trick, Vitek Vanecek made 22 saves and the Devils beat the fading Penguins 5-1 Tuesday night, knocking Pittsburgh out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with four games left in the regular season. New Jersey’s dominating performance came just two ...

Jarry stops 27 in Pens’ victory

PITTSBURGH — Tristan Jarry typically speaks in a monotone, symbolic of a goaltender who when he’s at his best takes a boring, almost zen-like approach to his job. It was telling earlier this week, however, when the two-time All-Star for the Pittsburgh Penguins took exception when asked if he was worried he has become injury prone after three months of health issues and erratic play. Jarry’s terse reply — that he has been durable most of his four full seasons in the NHL — was a little out of character. It also, however, revealed an edge that lies just underneath the ...

Nashville team wants to help heal

On the ice Tonight: Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. TV: AT&T SportsNet By Ken Powtak The Associated Press BOSTON — When the Nashville Predators’ team flight took off for Boston, defenseman Ryan McDonagh wasn’t aboard. He stayed home Monday, to be with his three young daughters in the shaken community. A day after a fatal grade school shooting in Nashville left six dead, including three children, McDonagh caught a commercial flight. Hours after arriving, and with both teams wearing helmet stickers to remember the victims, he helped the Predators beat the Bruins 2-1 ...