Lacing Up: Don't Fear the Keeper

By Joshua Neal; Tuesday May 14, 2013

Despite being outplayed frequently against the New York Islanders, the Pittsburgh Penguins have escaped to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face Craig Anderson and the Ottawa Senators.

Lacing Up: B-E-A-Utiful

By Joshua Neal; Monday March 11, 2013

Lots of hockey fans threw out lots of different scenarios for the Penguins’ void at second line winger. Players came, players were traded, players left. Now, the young guy gets his turn. And we may be speaking prematurely, but it’s hard to argue with his performance thus far in the NHL, even when he hasn’t been beside Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. We’re talking, of course, about Beau Bennett, the feature on this week’s edition of “Lacing Up.”

No Fisticuffs Friday This Week

By Joshua Neal; Friday February 22, 2013

Check back next week for normal Fisticuffs Friday coverage!

Lacing Up: Cooking Up Controversy

By Joshua Neal; Thursday February 21, 2013

While Matt Cooke has been a name that has raised eyebrows and conjured up some malicious words in other cities throughout his career and over the past week or so, a different Cook is stirring up trouble in Pittsburgh’s own fanbase. Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and his recent column on Penguins’ All-Pro Center Evgeni Malkin is the source of the controversy, and also the subject of this week’s edition of “Lacing Up.”

Fisticuffs Friday - February 15th, 2013

By Joshua Neal; Friday February 15, 2013

Love may have been in the air for Valentine’s Day, but there was no love lost this week in the NHL. Come see who took some right in the kisser.

Lacing Up: The Future of 58

By Joshua Neal; Wednesday February 13, 2013

In recent years, the Penguins have poured much of their attention in
the draft and development process into defensemen. One of the first guys to come through the system and make a sizable splash in the league was Kris Letang. With imminent free agency to come, what can we expect for Letang’s future with the Penguins?

Fisticuffs Friday - February 8th, 2013

By Joshua Neal; Friday February 8, 2013

When the going gets tough, the tough get fighting.

Fisticuffs Friday - February 1, 2013

By Joshua Neal; Friday February 1, 2013

“Wake up, wake up, it’s the first of tha month!” Bone Thugs-N-Harmony may have said it back in 1995, but this first of the month gives you even more reason to get out of bed: it’s Fisticuffs Friday.

Lacing Up: The Future Is Now

By Joshua Neal; Monday January 28, 2013

The Penguins are a team at the league’s center of focus. Young stars, a growing fan base, and nationwide appeal. The time is as good as ever to claim a spot in history as a storied franchise… or is it? Read on to see how Matt and I hash out the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fisticuffs Friday - January 25, 2013

By Joshua Neal; Friday January 25, 2013

In the first week of the 2013 NHL season, pugilism was rampant. 51 different players dropped the gloves. Who was good? Who was bad? And who got ugly?

Lacing Up: Let The Losers Play

By Joshua Neal; Thursday January 24, 2013

In Russia, playoffs are for losers. Find out what this means and whether it’s something the NHL should consider in this week’s second “Lacing Up” discussion.

Lacing Up: It's Good to be Back

By Joshua Neal; Monday January 21, 2013

We waited a long, long time for hockey to come back. Then we waited nervously as it looked like we’d be watching the Los Angeles Kings take on the Chicago Blackhawks on NBC, rather than the Penguins taking on the Flyers. When all the programming got under way, what did we see from the Penguins in their first game back after a long hiatus?

Isles Claim Brian Strait

By Joshua Neal; Friday January 18, 2013

Brian’s headed to Brooklyn.

Introducing "Fisticuffs Friday"

By Joshua Neal; Friday January 18, 2013

Fighting has always had its place in the league. Now it’s got its place in this blog. Welcome to “Fisticuffs Friday,” where the points are made up but the pain is real.

Lacing Up: Taking the Ice

By Joshua Neal; Thursday January 10, 2013

The news of a deal being reached was welcomed for those of us who wanted nothing more than to see some NHL hockey this season. Whether it’s 82, 48, or 4 games, though, it all comes down to the product that the team can put out on the ice. We spent the summer analyzing the Penguins’ acquisitions and departures. Now as the season approaches, how does it all fit together?

Lacing Up: Buying Out, Thinking Back

By Joshua Neal; Friday January 4, 2013

The lockout roller coaster continues, but at the time of the following conversation, things are looking more optimistic than otherwise. With the possibility of one contract buyout per team available in the incomplete new collective bargaining agreement, Matt and I get to thinking about the rule’s ramifications. With the possibility of some veteran players suddenly becoming bought-out free agents, Matt and I speak hypothetically on the situations that it would perhaps make possible.

Lacing Up: Closing the Laces on 2012

By Joshua Neal; Thursday December 27, 2012

As the horn sounds on 2012, Matt and I talk about the best, worst, and most memorable moments as we close the book on another year of hockey.

Lacing Up: Filling the Void

By Joshua Neal; Thursday December 20, 2012

It’s certainly no news that despite the fact that the weather outside is frightful, the lack of professional hockey on television and at the Consol Energy Center makes our fire a little bit less than delightful this Christmas. But as we trudge on without Sid, Geno, and company, hockey lives on, though in other forms. And some of those forms still remain available, perhaps closer to home than you may think.

Lacing Up: Where Who Gets What??

By Joshua Neal; Wednesday December 12, 2012

As a relatively disgruntled but painfully loyal hockey fan, I pay the extra monthly charge to be able to watch the NHL Network on a daily basis. I’ve seen the station’s self-promotion enough to know the slogan by heart. The NHL Network claims to be “Where the NHL gets Hockey.” So, if the NHL isn’t getting us hockey right now, shouldn’t the NHL Network be keeping us updated on when they can return to their original mission statement? One would think…

Lacing Up: Post-lockout NHL Geography

By Joshua Neal; Monday December 10, 2012

This all has to end sometime, right? And when it does, there is a key issue to be discussed when the league resumes play: division realignment. FF Blast from the Past Mike Wilson joins Matt and Josh to discuss the options. And there’s more…