Jussi Jokinen News

Penguins left winger Matt Cooke made a conscious effort two years ago to change his game, to pare it down from mean and nasty to tough and smart.

James Neal had a hat trick and the Penguins finished off the lifeless Ottawa Senators 6-2 on Friday night in Game 5 of the Eastern conference semifinals to take the best-of-seven series 4-1. Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Brenden Morrow also scored, and Tomas Vokoun made 29 saves as top-seeded Pittsburgh strolled to the next round.

A look at the Pittsburgh Penguins after their morning skate before Game 5? Things are looking better for Chris Kunitz than Brenden Morrow.

Thoughts from May 22's Pittsburgh Penguins 7-3 victory in Game 4 over the Ottawa Senators.

After a win in Game 3, the Ottawa Senators are confident they can tie their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If there's a silver lining to be found from the time Jussi Jokinen has spent scratched from the Penguins lineup, he figures the view from above might have provided insight into his opponent's tendencies in the faceoff circle.

The Penguins' practice didn't reveal lines, but a couple things became eminently clear: Jussi Jokinen will be back for Game 4 tomorrow.

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Jarome Iginla sits on the bench during an NHL game against the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 30, 2013.

Four-year-old Macin DeFazio is both player and announcer as he scores another goal in his Verona basement.

So loaded that James Neal, Pittsburgh's pre-eminent sniper last season with 40 goals, was on the bench for both of the Penguins' power play goals against the Senators in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made some changes in their lineup for Thursday's contest, and it worked out spectacularly for them.

The Old Barn was thirsty, and the young team was ready to give them something to cheer for.

Montreal's Marc Bergevin, Bob Murray of Anaheim and Pittsburgh's Ray Shero have been named the finalists for the NHL's General Manager of the Year award.

Sure, Ray Shero inherited a wealth of players, led by centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin , when he was hired as Penguins general manager in May 2006.

Only one Stanley Cup playoff hockey game took place on Saturday night, and a former Boston College Eagle was directly involved in the final outcome of not only that contest, but that series.

At the 2013 trade deadline, the Carolina Hurricanes did something they had to do.

A switch in net helped give the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins an edge in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, and they'll try to end the series when they visit the New York Islanders for Saturday's Game 6 at Nassau Coliseum.

During Pittsburgh's Thursday morning skate, Sam Kasan of the teams' official website reported that their lines looked as follows: After deeming Tomas Vokoun the lead man in net for Thursday's matchup - it looks as though head coach Dan Bylsma isn't done making changes.

Naturally, every game in a seven game series has increasing importance but given the goalie change in Pittsburgh tonight could make or break the Pittsburgh Penguins confidence and ultimately could be the deciding factor of their season.

As the second week of the NHL 's 2013 playoffs began, we witnessed goaltending drama galore, an underdog that won't quit and our first team to advance to its conference semifinals.