The Pittsburgh Penguins (26-14-11, 63 points) return home from a 4-0-0 Western Canada trip but will be down two key performers on Thursday night when they host the Chicago Blackhawks (21-23-9, 51 points) at PPG Paints Arena.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and forward Evgeni Malkin were not present for a practice session Friday in Cranberry. Coach Dan Muse indicated both players were dealing with unspecified ailments but did not elaborate further.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers are heading in opposite directions going into their game on Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Vancouver Canucks seeking to continue a three-game win streak. Vancouver has a 5-15-3 record in home games and a 17-29-5 record overall. The Canucks have a 7-7-4 record in games decided by one goal.

One goal in two games is not a good weekend. The Pittsburgh Penguins had one on Saturday and […] The post Dan’s Daily: Unwanted Trade Bait; IOC Happy; Penguins Go Dry appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

The Pittsburgh Penguins open a three-game homestand on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks with hopes of extending their winning streak to five games. However, the home team will be missing a couple of key players.

It was an outrageous display. On Dec. 14, four days after being acquired in a trade, goaltender Stuart Skinner made his debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins against his former team, the Edmonton Oilers.

Anthony Mantha had a goal and two assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins scored four goals in the second period to cruise past the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-2, at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday for their fifth straight win.