The Penguins’ season has already been defined by a familiar problem: not enough offense, and not enough of it when the moment looks ripe.
That’s been part of the conversation around Pittsburgh’s rough start, with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang among the players pointing to inconsistency as the main culprit. There’s evidence for that view, too.
The Penguins have picked up wins over the Stars, Panthers and Canadiens, all teams that appear headed toward postseason contention. Even so, Pittsburgh is sitting at a .375 point percentage, a pace that would be its lowest since Crosby’s first season in 2005-06 if it lasts the full year.
For a franchise long known for its attacking talent - especially during the Crosby, Letang and Evgeni Malkin era - the drop-off has been hard to miss. The latest snapshot of that struggle comes in a stat that says plenty about where things are going wrong.
Pittsburgh’s loss to the Bruins on Thursday was the fifth time the Penguins have lost to a backup goaltender, as noted by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Seth Rorabaugh. In those games, Dan Muse’s team has been largely stuck in neutral, scoring just two goals in three of them. Over the five-game stretch, the Penguins are averaging 2.6 goals per game, which is 0.53 below their season goals-for average.
The shot totals tell a similar story. Against backup netminders, the Penguins have rarely pushed the pace the way a team should against a less familiar opponent. In only one of those five games have they topped 31 shots on goal.
That was the case again Thursday, when Boston backup Michael DiPietro saw just 16 shots. That’s a light workload for a goalie whose career numbers include an .887 save percentage and -1.6 goals saved above average.
Pittsburgh still has plenty of recognizable firepower, from Crosby and Malkin to Erik Karlsson. But when the opposing starter is out, the Penguins haven’t been able to make it count. If Muse and his group don’t start putting more pucks on net in those spots, the road ahead could stay rough for a long time.
In Other News...
Wild Suddenly Linked To A Massive Penguins Decision
The Penguins uneven start has already pushed roster questions to the front of the conversation, and Evgeni Malkin is suddenly part of that discussion again. Pittsburgh is weighing changes as it tries to steady the season, and the veteran centers name is surfacing in trade speculation at a time when the organization is clearly keeping an open mind about its next move.
Minnesota has entered the picture as a possible landing spot, with Wild general manager Bill Guerin reportedly keeping tabs on the situation if the price makes sense and Malkin is willing to consider a move. The timing adds another layer to a familiar Penguins storyline, since any serious talk around Malkin will only grow louder as the calendar turns and the trade market starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Trade Talk Just Ran Into One Big Problem
The Penguins recent slide has only sharpened the conversation around what Kyle Dubas might do next, especially with the roster not giving many easy answers. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said the front office is weighing trade possibilities, but the process is not as simple as identifying a veteran and making a call. Dubas is expected to factor in player preferences before anything else, which makes any potential move feel more complicated than a typical deadline or midseason sell-off.
Tommy Novak has surfaced as one name to watch, though nothing has been confirmed and the broader market picture still feels murky. For Pittsburgh, the issue is not just finding a willing partner, but finding a deal that makes sense for both sides while respecting the protections built into the roster. Until that balance shifts, the Penguins may have more trade talk than trade action. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Rookie Defenseman Sparked A Comeback Fans Wont Forget
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins spent most of the night chasing the Charlotte Checkers, but the game flipped fast enough to feel like a different rink by the third period. Taylor Gauthier did his part with 29 saves, and the Penguins kept hanging around long enough for rookie defenseman Jake Livanavage to get involved in the offense, helping set up two of the goals that turned a lopsided game into a tense finish.
Livanavage then became the story in overtime, finishing off the comeback in a way that will stick with the Penguins and their fans for a while. Cooper Black stopped 27 shots for Charlotte, but the Checkers could not close it out after letting the game get away late, and Pittsburghs affiliate walked off with one of those wins that can change the mood of a road trip in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]