2025-2026 Pittsburgh Penguins Regular Season and Playoff Thread

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Where I get to share my occasional thoughts on this team in transition. And where occasionally others may come and comment (though to be clear, any and all are welcome).

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Opening night vs the Rags and our old coach, Mike Sullivan. Two teens on the roster (so clearly not a Sullivan-led team) in forward Ben Kindle (this year's first round pick) and defender Harrison Brunicke (second round pick last year). But still a team led by the Big Three (you know who) for the 20th straight season.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

And wouldn't you know, the Pens go out and shut out the Rags, 3-0. Justin Brazeau scored twice, both off Malkin assists, while Blake Lizotte scored the third. The last two were ENs. Arthur Silovs had a shut out, stopping all 24 shots.
And the teens, Kindle and Brunicke, looked comfortable and not too out of place. It's just the first game, against a Rags team that probably won't make a deep run in the playoffs, but it's nice to start the Muse era with a win.

 

[Habspatrol]

I was definitely impressed with Kindel. He looked good and they didn't really shelter him at all. Out there late with a one goal lead.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

First home game is a 4-3 win over the Isles. Geno with 1+2, Sid scored, Harrison Brunicke got his first NHL goal and Justin Brazeau makes it 3 goals in 2 games by scoring the game winner with about 5 1/2 left.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Pens promptly got blown out, 6-1, in the return of Mike Sullivan to the PPG. Then on Tuesday, they lost 4-3 to the Ducks in their season opener after a stupid penalty by Parker Wotherspoon (delay of game) with less than two minutes to go in the game.
But I got to go to the Crypto.com arena in LA last night with a friend (Kings fan; I'm on the left, below) and watch the Pens come back from 2-0 down to win 4-2. After the Kings scored two goals inside of 10:00, I was resigned to a long night. But Geno and Connor Dewar scored 41 seconds apart, about seven minutes into the second, to tie it. Dewar's goal, in particular, looked odd. It was one I thought Forsberg would easily stop, until he didn't and it went in.
Then Filip Hallander scored his first NHL goal short-handed, off a rebound from the second shot by Rickard Rakell. And SId ended the night with an EN. 3-2 on the season, headed to San Jose for what is probably our third loss (end of this road trip always kills us).
Almost helped me feel better about the fact that the Steelers lost to the 2-4 Cincinnati Bengals playing without their QB and the star edge rusher.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

BTW, gotta say that I'm OK with the team managing the games of the two kids, Brunicke and Kindel. Harrison was off vs the Ducks, Ben was off last night. Just wish it had been the other way around because I really wanted to see Ben play. Oh well.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

The Penguins are 8-2-2 right now. Good mix from our aces playing well (well, Sid and Geno are), the kids stepping up and the "pieces" doing more than expected.
And oh yeah, the goalie tandem of Silovs and Jarry has worked really well so far.

Penguins Insider: Chirps, Playing Faster, & Unmasking the Joker (+)

ST. PAUL, Minn. — These Pittsburgh Penguins are a different breed, and as they continue to defy expectations, they are […]

pittsburghhockeynow.com

 

[Habspatrol]

Definitely didn't see this coming. Top team in the league.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Injuries and inexperience certainly taking its toll on this team (and the head-shaking defending of both Letang and Karlsson, on full display when the Ducks scored with 0.1 seconds left in the third to tie the game at 3. The Ducks had pulled their keeper but were a man short after a penalty.)

Still, 7th place in the conference at 14-7-7 after 28 games is far better than I expected. With the Habs (three times in the next ten days), Sharks, Mammoth, Oilers, Senators, Leafs and Hawks coming up (before ending 2025 with Carolina and Detroit), I hope we can pick up some points against teams similarly situated to us (in terms of points earned this season). Doing so without Geno and Rickard Rakell seems a particularly tall order, though. Even if the kid Kindel has played pretty well.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Six weeks ago, last updated this and the Pens were 14-7-7. We're now 28-14-11 (14-7-4 since the last update). Unbelievable that we're on 67 points, second in the division. Dan Muse HAS to be in consideration for Coach of the Year, right? Solid two-man goaltending team (Skinner and Silovs), Letang and even Karlsson looking lively, Geno looking more energetic and hoping to play again next year, and Sid being Sid.

But it's really the Anthony Manthas (19-21-40), Tommy Novaks (9-19-28), and Justin Brazeaus (14-11-25 in just 39 games) among others that have helped shore up this team's forward lines. And Brett Kulak has joined other reclamation projects like Parker Wotherspoon to shore up the back line. Finally, the new Russian players (Chinakov and Soloyov) seem comfortable in Muse's system as well.

I've enjoyed this season so much thus far; looking forward to the run in after the Olympics. Tough run in to the break though: tonight vs the Sens at home, then tomorrow at Isles and Thursday at Buffalo.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

I've enjoyed this season so much thus far; looking forward to the run in after the Olympics. Tough run in to the break though: tonight vs the Sens at home, then tomorrow at Isles and Thursday at Buffalo.

That run in: loss, OT loss and beat Buffalo. Since the Olympic break? Win, SO loss to the Rags, beat Vegas 5-0, then back-to-back losses to Boston and Buffalo. Sid got hurt in Milan, and Geno got himself suspended five games for a ridiculous slash to the face of Rasmus Dahlin. So mad at him. Team is still second in the Metro, level on points (with two games in hand) on the Isles, with Columbus only a few points further back.
Happy with the way Karlsson has played this year, the kid Ben Kindel looks far more comfortable in the lineup than I expected, and guys like Ryan Shea and Yegor Chinakov have been pleasant surprises. As has our two man goalie tandem. Not sure about their playoff prospects but still feeling good about the players brought in.

 

[Habspatrol]

We'll see how Chinakov looks without Geno for a bit. They have had great chemistry.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Yeah that's a good call. I think, IIRC, he was staying at Geno's briefly after arriving in the Burgh. I'm hoping SOMEONE steps up in the interim. Flyers, Bs, Canes, G Knights and Mammoth without him. Geez.

 

[Habspatrol]

Yeah that's a good call. I think, IIRC, he was staying at Geno's briefly after arriving in the Burgh. I'm hoping SOMEONE steps up in the interim. Flyers, Bs, Canes, G Knights and Mammoth without him. Geez.

And, of course... no Sid. Gonna be a very interesting 5 games. If they can take 5 points, that's a victory.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

And, of course... no Sid. Gonna be a very interesting 5 games. If they can take 5 points, that's a victory.

So far, the Pens have:
Lost 4-3 in a shootout to Philly,
Beat Boston 5-4 in OT. Overcame a 3-0 deficit in that one.
Lost 5-4 in a shootout to Carolina. Overcame a 4-2 deficit in that one, only to suck in the shootout, again.

That's 4 points in three games. They are still second in the Met with a game in hand on the Isles in third. Yegor has looked good (one goal, 4 assists), but how is this team so inept at shootouts this year (1-10)? Anyways, on to Vegas tonight. If we can stay competitive, I'd be thrilled. Yes, I know we smoked them at home the last time out but I think the bad taste of that loss will be a strong motivating factor for the GKs at home.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Rest of Geno's suspension:
Cooked in Vegas 6-2 after trailing only 3-2 after two.
Came from two goals down in Utah to beat them 4-3. 6 points from the five Geno missed.
First game back tonight: he scores the first of our 4 in the first en route to a 7-2 win. Geno ended the night with two goals, an assist, and first star. Oh and we beat freaking Colorado!
This team has way exceeded my expectations. And maybe the biggest surprise? Erik Karlsson has carried the lion's load on the blue line, offensively AND defensively. Good thing, because Kris Letang looks and plays old and slow.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Sid came back tonight. Missed 11 games while injured, and he scored a goal and has an assist. But we lose 6-5 in OT. Still, a good showing away vs the best in the conference

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

Yesterday vs. the Winnipeg Jets: led 2-0, Jets tied it at 2-2. Led 3-2, Jets took 4-3 lead. We tied it late in the third, then won only our second shootout of the season to get the second point. But to me, the best part of the game was the first 1:20 of OT (until we went on the PP, oddly enough). Both teams had multiple chances to win it, especially the Pens. But both goalies, particularly Connor Hellebuyck, were outstanding in OT.

Today, another home game, only to get demolished by Carolina 5-1. Thoroughly outclassed by the top side in the conference.

 

[Ed H in Pasadena]

This week? Colorado at home on Tuesday, Ottawa away on Thursday, then the Dallas Stars at home on Saturday.