Penguins vs. Devils: February 26, 2026
In an exciting match-up on February 26, 2026, the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the New Jersey Devils at PPG PAINTS Arena for the first time this season without captain Sidney Crosby. The Penguins took to the ice with Samuel Girard making his team debut, while goaltender Arturs Silovs was called upon to defend the net.
First Period Highlights
From the onset, both teams showcased their offensive skills, but the Penguins initially had the upper hand. Evgeni Malkin and his line created several scoring opportunities, putting pressure on New Jersey’s defense. As the period unfolded, the Devils found their rhythm, forcing Silovs to make critical stops.
Pittsburgh earned its first power play and during that time, Kris Letang, after some well-coordinated play with Malkin, fired a shot that was deftly redirected by Tommy Novak past Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
The first period wrapped up with a shots tally of 9-6 in favor of the Penguins, with the power play goal marking the key moment of the period.
Second Period Developments
As the second period commenced, New Jersey made notable adjustments. They secured their first power play opportunity following a high-sticking call on Malkin. Although they failed to score during that chance, momentum soon shifted when Paul Cotter redirected a shot from Dougie Hamilton into the net. Pittsburgh challenged the goal but ultimately it stood, and the Devils had a chance to equalize.
Despite killing off the subsequent New Jersey power play, the penalty woes continued for the Penguins. They dropped a few more opportunities, while the Devils, too, could not capitalize on their power plays. In a period marked by back-and-forth penalties, Pittsburgh kept the game locked in a stalemate heading into the third period.
Final Frame and Conclusion
The Penguins emerged in the final frame with increased intensity. The line of Hayes, Rakell, and Rust set the tone, and soon after, Ryan Shea struck the post with a strong shot. The puck rebounded to Connor Clifton, who seized the opportunity and scored, pushing the Penguins ahead 2-1.
Fifty seconds later, Malkin assisted Egor Chinakhov, who skillfully slid the puck past Markstrom, extending the lead to 3-1. In a desperate attempt to catch up, the Devils pulled Markstrom for an extra attacker late in the game. A mishap involving Clifton led to a Pittsburgh penalty, but the Penguins managed to maintain their two-goal buffer. Ultimately, Blake Lizotte scored into the empty net, finalizing the score at 4-1 for the Penguins.
Post-Game Analysis
Key topics after the game included the Penguins’ struggles in faceoffs, particularly in the absence of Crosby, who typically dominates that statistic. Pittsburgh won only 40% of draws, a concerning metric that must be addressed moving forward. Additionally, head coach Dan Muse‘s challenges regarding goaltender interference continue to attract scrutiny, as he is yet to succeed in any such reviews this season.
Goaltender Silovs proved pivotal in the game, delivering stellar performances that effectively kept the team in contention through difficult moments. His contributions were complemented by solid offensive support, including significant efforts from both Malkin and the defensemen, who played crucial roles in generating scoring chances.
This win allows the Penguins to improve their record against division rivals, now standing at 11-1-5, and sets a positive tone as they prepare for a grueling series of games ahead. With their next matches set for the weekend, including a game against the Rangers, the Penguins look to capitalize on this momentum at home with upcoming challenges on the horizon.
