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Penguins Notebook

Penguins News Roundup 3/1/18: Seattle

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Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby
By s.yume [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

2:05 p.m.: Boom! Any doubts about Seattle and hockey should be laid to rest. The city did win a Stanley Cup nearly 100 years ago, but the techies are on board:

1:35 p.m.: After the morning skate, Jake Guentzel admitted his confidence took a hit and it is back. See Dan Kingerski’s look at Guentzel’s rebound. Guentzel figures to play on Sidney Crosby’s left wing.

The Penguins are in Boston for tonight’s tilt with the third best team in the Eastern Conference and old friend Rick Nash. Bruins lynchpin Patrice Bergeron is out for several weeks, or more, with a lower body injury.

There are lingering questions abound about Seattle using the NHL as a lure to get an NBA team. Hopefully, the wave of ticket sales will convince basketball lovers to accept the ice. And…please, please, please name the team the Krackens!  — Dan Kingerski

7:00 a.m.: Sidney Crosby is getting his just deserves. Greater than Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Roger Federer? According to the Canada 150 poll (Canada is celebrating its 150th birthday), 26 percent of respondents named Crosby the greatest athlete of the 21st century.

Lebron James got 5 percent. Tom Brady polled four percent. Poor Roger Federer also registered four points.

Crosby’s “Golden Goal” was also voted greatest sports moment. It’s a fascinating poll. Read all about it on Sportsnet.

If you missed the practice notes yesterday, per head coach Mike Sullivan, Zach Aston-Reese is out “longer term” with an upper-body injury which he suffered Monday at practice.

The NHL announced the Vancouver Canucks will host the 2019 NHL Draft. The 2018 Draft will be in Dallas…even though the Penguins will not be prominent participants.

It’s March 1. Seattle begins its NHL season ticket drive today. Movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer is leading the charge, so expect lots of fireworks, terrible dialogue and a happy ending.

Metro Roundup

Montreal beat the New York Islanders, 3-1. The Isles are falling out of the playoff race. They now trail the second wild-card Columbus Blue Jackets by four points, and the Blue Jackets have one game in hand.

John Tavares mania is sweeping Montreal. The French-Canadian city is talking itself into believing Tavares could embrace the bleu, blanc et rouge on July 1.

The New York Rangers beat the Vancouver Canucks in a wild overtime thriller, 6-5.

#LightningWatch

Pittsburgh Hockey Now will be following the Tampa Bay Lightning, in anticipation of the potential Eastern Conference Final showdown. It could be the best team in the NHL vs. the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Lightning, in Buffalo, 2-1. Jason Pominville netted the overtime winner.

The Lightning reached 90 points with the loser point. The Lightning managed just 22 shots on goal.