The Penguins spent most of Wednesday night digging out of a hole they created for themselves, and by the time the final buzzer sounded, the damage from the opening minutes had already done its work.
Washington beat Pittsburgh 5-3 in Alex Ovechkin's final home opener, with the Capitals recovering from a furious Penguins push in the second period and then taking back control in the third. Pittsburgh never fully recovered from the early mistakes that put it behind, even after briefly flipping the game’s energy.
The first period set the tone in ugly fashion for the Penguins. Washington scored 23 seconds in after a turnover opened the door for Anthony Beauvillier on a breakaway.
Pittsburgh answered quickly when Bryan Rust, making his season debut, scored less than a minute later, but the Capitals kept punishing the Penguins for giveaways. Kris Letang’s decision behind the net led to Tom Wilson’s goal, and another Pittsburgh turnover set up Pierre-Luc Dubois’ second-period tally.
That was the difference early on: Washington was finishing chances Pittsburgh was handing over. The Capitals didn’t need to manufacture everything themselves, and that’s what left the Penguins staring at a 4-1 deficit in the second period.
Still, Pittsburgh didn’t fold.
The Penguins found a burst late in the second, scoring twice in the final six minutes to make things interesting. Tommy Novak finished a rebound after Evgeni Malkin hit the post, and Nick Robertson then redirected a Kaeden Korczak shot to cut the deficit to 4-3. For a stretch, the game had turned, and Washington suddenly looked like the team under pressure.
Pittsburgh just couldn’t finish the job.
The Penguins had three power play chances and didn’t score on any of them, and that missed opportunity loomed large once the third period arrived. Ryan Leonard scored 3:55 into the final frame on a Washington power play, restoring the Capitals’ two-goal cushion and draining some of the energy from Pittsburgh’s comeback attempt.
Rust was one of the night’s bright spots for Pittsburgh. After missing the first three games with an upper-body injury, he scored on his first shift of the season, driving from the left side, battling through Ilya Protas and slipping the puck past Logan Thompson to tie the game 1-1.
It was exactly the kind of net-front impact the Penguins had been missing. But his goal ended up being one of only three Pittsburgh scored, and the Penguins dropped their second straight game.
Wednesday also added another chapter to the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin rivalry. It was the 76th regular-season meeting between the two, coming just two days after Ovechkin announced the 2026-27 season will be his last.
Neither superstar recorded a point, but the stage still belonged to them in a game that carried extra weight for Ovechkin as his final home opener at Capital One Arena. Washington made it a fitting night for its captain, getting three points from Wilson and the win to go with it.
In Other News...
Sidney Crosby's Slow Start Has Penguins Fans Facing A Tough Reality
Sidney Crosbys opening week has looked nothing like the standard hes set for so long in Pittsburgh. Through the first four games, he has yet to score a goal, has only two assists and sits at minus-3, even as he has continued to win faceoffs and put pucks on net. For a player whose game has always been built on drive, detail and constant pressure, the early numbers stand out because the process has not disappeared, even if the finish has.
The concern now is less about one cold stretch than what it might mean over time. Crosbys overall impact has dipped, and there is at least some question about whether the knee injury he dealt with during the Olympics is still lingering and affecting his play. For Penguins fans, the uncomfortable part is obvious: when the captain is still involved but not driving results the way he once did, it invites a harder conversation about age, wear and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Fought Back But One Familiar Problem Ruined It
Bryan Rust gave the Penguins enough offense to hang around at Nationwide Arena, scoring twice in regulation as Pittsburgh battled Columbus into overtime. For a night that could have slipped away early, the Penguins found a response and a path to at least a point, with the game tightening around a young lineup trying to sort out the details on the road.
Sergei Murashov was a huge part of that fight, turning aside 43 of 45 shots and making several important stops in overtime to give Pittsburgh every chance to steal it. But once the game got to the skills competition, the familiar issue surfaced again, and the Penguins could not cash in on their chances while the Blue Jackets did just enough to take the 3-2 decision. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Have A Sidney Crosby Problem They Can't Ignore
Sidney Crosbys start to the season has been quieter than the Penguins would like, and it has only added to the unease around a stretch that has now carried over from late last season. Pittsburgh has been cycling through different line combinations in an effort to spark him, a reminder that even with a player of Crosbys stature, finding the right chemistry can still be a moving target.
The concern is not just about one slow opening, but about how long this has been building for the Penguins captain. He has struggled to consistently finish chances for months, and the team is clearly looking for familiar faces to help settle things down. A reunion with Bryan Rust on his wing could be one of the cleaner fixes available, but the Penguins still have to see whether the answer is as simple as putting Crosby back with the players who know his game best. [Read more 🡒]