The Latest Breaking News from Josh Archibald

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The cannon blasted late at Nationwide Arena, calling Thursday’s game to an end. But no one blinked. The battle was already over.

PITTSBURGH — Kris Letang’s reintroduction to the lineup was just the spark the Penguins needed as they operated without a key defensive cog on a night where defense was at a deficit.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It seemed like the Penguins may have finally kicked their habit of periodic fits of futility when they had a responsible start Wednesday, an opening 30 minutes or so when they played a smart style, regularly closing gaps on Sabres skaters and denying passing lanes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — How the Penguins started Saturday's game was hardly a blueprint for success.

When Mike Sullivan was hired to coach the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the summer of 2015, he remembers meeting a wide-eyed, speedy winger only a couple years removed from his college career at Notre Dame named Bryan Rust.