Pens Points: Zapped at Home

For the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins dropped a game in regulation and skated away with no points in the standings following a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a scoreless opening period, the Lightning broke the game open with three goals in the second period to take a commanding lead. Just when it appeared the Penguins may be shut out, Jason Zucker notched his third goal of the year in the third period to get the Penguins on the board. [Pensburgh]

Pens Points seems like a good way to begin your Wednesday...

Some good news on the injury front for once. Though he didn’t play against the Lightning on Tuesday, captain Sidney Crosby took part in the optional morning skate and continues to trend in the right direction in his recovery. [Pensburgh]

Missing Mike Matheson to begin the season and now without Kris Letang due to COVID-19, reserve defenseman Mark Friedman has been called upon by the Penguins and has used the most of his unexpected opportunity to impress on the ice. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

While the blue line works through injuries, that unit is not nearly as decimated as the forwards at the moment. Kasper Bjorkqvist was just the latest call up from the AHL as the Penguins look to utilize healthy bodies wherever they can. [Trib Live]

In a somewhat bizarre story, US Customs and Border officials recently intercepted a slew of fake championship rings in Cincinnati. Some of the rings captured bore the Penguins logo along with a few other recent professional sports champions. [Cincinnati Inquirer]

News and notes from around the NHL...

Fallout from the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault investigation came down swiftly on Tuesday afternoon. General manager Stan Bowman has been removed from his role and is no longer with the organization after the findings were released. [Second City Hockey]

On top of losing his job with the Blackhawks, Bowman has also stepped down from his role as general manager of the USA Men’s Hockey team. A search for his replacement will begin immediately according to USA Hockey. [USA Today]