Matt Cooke News

On the colossal stage of the conference semifinals, eight teams are currently battling it out for just four spots in the next round.

Canada's Eric Staal lies injured on the ice after a hit by Sweden's Alexander Edler at the world hockey championships on Thursday.

The Penguins' second-round playoff series against Ottawa relocates to Scotiabank Place tonight, and that means the Senators will have the usual advantages of playing at home, like a supportive crowd and coach Paul MacLean being able to make the final personnel changes.

Here's a bit of unsolicited advice for the Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards for the remainder of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Ottawa Senators - attack Erik Karlsson.

Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators handles the puck in Game 1 in front of the opponent who put him out for more than two months with an Achilles injury, Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins' winger Matt Cooke joins Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan's Vinnie & Cook for an inside look at their playoff series against the Ottawa Senators.

Dan Bylsma has been hearing it seemingly from the moment he took over at Pittsburgh Penguins head coach four years ago.

Is Ottawa defenceman Erik Karlsson still stewing about this hit from the Penguins' Matt Cooke that sliced the Senators star's Achilles' tendon in early February? There's no time to catch your breath in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The NHL playoffs are off to a heart-pounding start with a record 17 games going to overtime in the first round.

Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins with 11 points in six games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and his teammates will try to generate some offence against Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson and the Senators when their series kicks off Tuesday night.

The celebration, at least by the typically all-business standards of the Pittsburgh Penguins, appeared a little over the top.

The Penguins are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the New York Islanders in six games.

Other than that, he's got this Al Davis bit down. He's brash, braggadocios and appears to enjoy saying ridiculous things that - whether calculated or not - shift a portion of the focus from the players to him.

Almost ready to return. Star centre Jason Spezza is hoping to return sometime in the next series as his his Ottawa Senators take on the No.

With an overtime goal by Brooks Orpik in Game 6, the Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Ottawa Senators radio color analyst Gord Wilson joined Paul Zeise on Sunday evening to offer a Senators' perspective on the upcoming Penguins vs.

May 11, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov makes a save in front of Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Cooke and New York Islanders center Josh Bailey during the second period of game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson, centre, grimaces as he hits the boards after colliding with Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Cooke, left, during the second period of a game in January.

Tomas Vokoun makes save on the Islanders' Casey Cizikas in the second period Thursday at Consol Energy Center.Kris Letang: Tied for Most points by a defenseman in playoffs.