Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
With the regular season nearing its end, the Eastern Conference playoff race remains tightly contested, with about 10 teams battling for eight spots as momentum swings nightly. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, a crucial upcoming stretch—starting Monday night with a back-to-back set against the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings—could significantly define their playoff chances. [PensBurgh]
If the Penguins have any chance of solidifying one of the remaining playoff spots, getting contributions from
healthy stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be crucial. Both players returned to practice on Sunday ahead of Monday night’s clash. [Trib Live]
It has been a frustratingly inconsistent season for forward prospect Ville Koivunen, marked by frequent call-ups and demotions between the NHL and AHL, all while trying to manage his development and the challenges of adjusting to the NHL level. Despite flashes of improvement and strong AHL production, he’s still working to translate that success into nightly production with Pittsburgh. [Trib Live]
Indiana Pacers guard and Pittsburgh native T.J. McConnell was seen repping his hometown hockey club on Sunday. The veteran was wearing a gold Crosby jersey on his way into the arena ahead of the Pacers’ game against the Miami Heat. [NHL]
Updates from around the NHL…
A late-season shake-up in Sin City: The Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy on Sunday and replaced him with John Tortorella. [ESPN]
The Seattle Kraken are interested in re-signing Bobby McMann after his strong start following a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. [Sportsnet]
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward Porter Martone, the No. 6 overall selection in the 2025 draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced on Sunday. [TSN]
Luc Tardif said on Sunday that he will not seek re-election and will step aside from his role as president of the International Ice Hockey Federation when his current term ends in October. [TSN]
