In a season that started with modest expectations and more questions than answers, the Pittsburgh Penguins have found a way to stay in the thick of the playoff conversation - and they’ve done it with a mix of resilience, savvy roster moves, and a few unexpected storylines that have turned heads across the league.
Let’s break down the five biggest surprises of the Penguins’ season so far - the kind of developments that have not only kept Pittsburgh in the hunt, but reshaped the narrative around a team many thought was headed toward a rebuild.
5. Goaltending: From Liability to Lifeline
Coming into the season, goaltending was supposed to be the Penguins’ Achilles’ heel. Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs weren’t exactly inspiring confidence - both had spent time in the AHL last season, and they were seen as placeholders until top prospect Sergei Musharov was ready for prime time. But hockey rarely follows the script.
Until a rough December stretch - a 10-game winless skid that briefly derailed momentum - Pittsburgh’s goalies were quietly among the league’s best in save percentage. Silovs began to show signs of regression, but Jarry’s strong play helped facilitate a midseason trade that sent him to Edmonton in exchange for Stuart Skinner.
And here’s where the story gets even more interesting.
Skinner, who had become a lightning rod for criticism in Edmonton, has found new life in Pittsburgh. Since the holiday break, he’s been one of the top-performing goalies in the league, and even though a couple of tough outings dropped his save percentage to .904, the eye test and the numbers both suggest he’s been a stabilizing force.
Penguins fans have embraced him quickly - and loudly. The “Stuuuu!”
chants echoing through arenas, even on the road, say it all.
From a position of concern to a surprising strength, Pittsburgh’s goaltending has been a foundational piece of their turnaround.
4. Evgeni Malkin: Turning Back the Clock
At 39 years old, Evgeni Malkin isn’t supposed to be doing this.
After a frustrating 2024-25 campaign marred by injuries and a drop in production - just 50 points in 68 games - it looked like Father Time was finally catching up to the Penguins legend. But Malkin came into this season with a point to prove.
“I want to show everybody I can play one more year,” he said earlier this season in Edmonton.
And he has. Malkin is just six points shy of surpassing last season’s total, and he’s doing it with a jump in his stride that’s reminiscent of his prime.
He’s moving better, playing with purpose, and making a real impact on both ends of the ice. Whether or not a new contract is in the cards remains to be seen, but Malkin’s resurgence has been one of the most uplifting stories in Pittsburgh’s season.
He’s not just hanging on - he’s leading.
3. Parker Wotherspoon & Ryan Shea: Depth Defenders No More
This one didn’t make a lot of noise in the offseason, but it’s had a major impact on the ice.
The Penguins signed Parker Wotherspoon - the Boston Bruins’ seventh defenseman - to a low-risk deal and slotted him alongside Erik Karlsson on the second pairing. They also leaned on Ryan Shea, another depth piece, and asked him to play top-pair minutes with Kris Letang - often on his off-side.
That should’ve been a recipe for disaster. Instead, it’s been a revelation.
Wotherspoon and Shea have brought a steady, physical, and mobile presence to the blue line. Wotherspoon has meshed well with Karlsson, providing the kind of defensive balance that lets the former Norris winner do what he does best. Shea, meanwhile, has bounced around pairings and even struggled a bit after being flipped to the right side out of necessity - but overall, his contributions have been rock-solid.
Both players are having career years, and both have likely earned themselves a place in the NHL beyond this season. For a team that needed depth and reliability on the back end, this duo has delivered far beyond expectations.
2. Dan Muse: The Coach Nobody Saw Coming
When the Penguins were searching for a new head coach, Dan Muse wasn’t exactly a name on many shortlists. But 56 games into his first NHL head coaching gig, Muse has made believers out of just about everyone in the Penguins’ locker room - and around the league.
What’s stood out? His ability to tailor game plans to specific opponents.
Take the win over Carolina, for example - that was a coaching clinic in preparation and execution. Muse has also brought a lighter, more positive atmosphere to the team, a stark contrast to some of the frustration that had built up in recent years.
He’s not just a development coach. He’s shown he can connect with veterans, communicate clearly, and implement systems that get results. It’s not always flashy, but it’s effective - and the players have responded.
Muse has quickly gone from unknown to indispensable.
1. Erik Karlsson: Back to Being Erik Karlsson
When Kyle Dubas pulled the trigger on the Erik Karlsson trade in August 2023, the hope was that the Penguins were getting the version of Karlsson who could still tilt the ice - not the one who looked disengaged and defensively suspect during stretches of his last few seasons.
This year, they’ve gotten the real deal.
Karlsson has been a catalyst for the entire blue line. His ability to shake off forecheckers, push the puck up ice, and create scoring chances has transformed the way the Penguins play. He’s opened up space for his teammates, stabilized the power play (which has hovered near the top of the league all season at 25.9%), and reminded everyone why he’s a three-time Norris Trophy winner.
There were whispers that he wasn’t being used properly under the previous coaching staff - and while Karlsson hasn’t gone into detail, his play under Muse has certainly done the talking. He’s not just contributing - he’s elevating the group around him.
This is the Karlsson Pittsburgh hoped for. And he’s delivering.
The Big Picture
The Penguins' season has been anything but predictable. From a goalie turnaround that’s sparked “Stuuuu!” chants to a 39-year-old Malkin skating like he’s 29, and a coach who’s gone from unknown to Xs-and-Os tactician, Pittsburgh has rewritten its own script.
They’re not just surviving - they’re thriving in their own unconventional way.
And while there's still plenty of hockey left to play, one thing’s clear: this team, once dismissed as aging and directionless, is showing signs of something far more compelling - a group that just might have a little magic left in the tank.