Pittsburgh Penguins Weekly Overview
The Pittsburgh Penguins had a notably unusual week but managed to secure four points out of a possible six in the standings, which fulfills their initial goal given the caliber of their opponents. They had opportunities to gain all six points; unfortunately, their struggle in shootouts undermined these chances. Conversely, they also faced the risk of ending up with just two points without the benefit of two late-game 6-on-5 goals that pushed their matches against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets into overtime. This mixed outcome may reflect a broader pattern for the Penguins this season.
Upcoming Challenges
As they head into the upcoming week, the Penguins remain in playoff contention, currently occupying the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. A road trip this week will take them to Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, where they will encounter teams they’ve previously faced this season with varied success.
Match Previews
The Penguins face a crucial series of games, starting with a match against the Seattle Kraken, who previously defeated them on home turf. The Kraken, currently in playoff position, have been struggling offensively, ranking last in the NHL for expected goal share at 5-on-5 and 29th in shot attempts. If the Penguins can leverage their recent dominance in possession and tighten their defense, they may have a solid chance against a team heavily reliant on goaltending. For the Penguins to find success, they must unlock their own scoring capabilities and challenge Seattle’s netminders effectively.
Following the match with the Kraken, the Penguins will head into a back-to-back roster against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Similar to the Kraken, the Flames also face challenges in scoring and have been struggling with possession metrics. Recent trades, including the departure of top defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, may ease the challenge for the Penguins.
Thursday’s game against Edmonton presents a significant challenge, not only because they are the strongest team on this trip but also due to the Penguins playing their second consecutive road game without much rest. Although the Oilers have depth issues outside of their star players, their top talent has historically been problematic for the Penguins, particularly with the addition of Zack Hyman, who is currently on a scoring spree.
The road trip wraps up on Sunday with a match against the Vancouver Canucks, who have been struggling considerably, losing their last ten games and missing their standout defenseman Quinn Hughes after his recent trade. Given the Canucks’ current state and the Penguins’ earlier domination of them at home, this match seems favorable for Pittsburgh.
Looking Ahead
With three games ahead that could likely yield victories, the Penguins have the opportunity to capture at least five points this week, ideally even six. Achieving this would place them on a trajectory for a strong playoff position with a projected pace of 98 points heading into the following week.
