PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYOFF RETURN
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby, now clean-shaven, took a moment to adjust a black baseball cap over his head as he settled onto the bench of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ locker room on Thursday. For the first time in several years, Crosby didn’t face a mid-April ritual of packing up his belongings or speculating on a gloomy offseason following a disappointing season. Instead, the Penguins, who started the year with modest expectations, transformed into one of the NHL’s most surprising stories by securing second place in the Metropolitan Division, thus earning a playoff berth after a three-year hiatus that often felt like much longer.
PLAYOFFS: A WELCOME CHANGE
When Crosby was playfully asked about his preference for discussing the playoffs as opposed to contemplating the uncertain future, the 38-year-old superstar, known for being the only player in NHL history to achieve a point-per-game average over 21 consecutive seasons, responded with a grin,
“Way better. This is what you play for, to compete for the Stanley Cup. And I think after some years not being able to do it, I think we appreciate it even more.”
UNEXPECTED SUCCESS
The Penguins’ current success was perhaps unexpected—beginning the season under the leadership of a largely untested head coach, Dan Muse, alongside new teammates forming a supporting cast around Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. By season’s end, they emerged as the NHL’s third-highest scoring team, recapturing the thrilling and resilient playing style that characterized their 16 consecutive playoff appearances from 2007 to 2022, including three Stanley Cup wins during that period.
READY TO COMPETE
Achieving those heights again won’t come without effort. However, the Penguins are ready to compete once more in the playoffs, having spent the last three years sitting idly by as others battled for the championship.
“The potential has always been there,”
reflected defenseman Erik Karlsson, who is enjoying one of the best seasons of his lengthy 17-year career.
“And this year we really found a way to bring it out of everybody and be where we are today.”
URGENCY TO RETURN
For Crosby, Malkin, and Letang, the prolonged absence from the playoffs intensified the urgency to return as they felt time running out on their legendary collaboration.
“I think there may have been times when we really thought, ‘We got to get back to the playoffs,’ or how much we missed it during our time out,”
Crosby acknowledged. However, he clarified that despite uncertainties surrounding Malkin’s contract status beyond this season, they didn’t approach this year with a ‘last hurrah’ mentality.
NEW COACHING PERSPECTIVES
The arrival of Muse, noted for his ability to develop younger players as a long-time NHL assistant, brought fresh perspectives that overshadowed sentimental concerns. Muse’s pragmatic, work-focused coaching style emphasized accountability and preparation rather than flashy speeches.
“He’s a good communicator,”
Crosby praised him, noting Muse’s commitment to clarity regarding player roles. This new direction was also supported by general manager Kyle Dubas’s adept reconfiguration of the roster to strengthen the team beyond just the core players.
DEPTH AND RESILIENCE
In the past, the Penguins often relied heavily on Crosby and Malkin, but the addition of players like forwards Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha—both of whom achieved career-best statistics—alongside talented rookie Ben Kindel and a standout fourth line featuring Blake Lizotte, Connor Dewar, and Noel Acciari, provided the much-needed depth that helped propel the Penguins through the season, even amidst injuries to their star players.
Brazeau noticed the eagerness from his teammates when training camp kicked off in September.
“I knew we had a lot of guys that were hungry to prove something in this league. I think that can be a good recipe,”
he recognized. And indeed, the Penguins displayed some of their strongest performances as the season went on, successfully navigating challenges to secure their playoff spot with noticeable confidence.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Through tough times, such as Malkin’s month-long injury absence and Crosby’s recovery from a significant knee injury sustained during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, which contributed to their 16 overtime and shootout losses, the Penguins constantly found ways to recover. Karlsson, who has regained his elite form after facing earlier setbacks, credited the entire team for their endurance throughout the rigorous 82-game season.
“Why stop now?”
he added.
“I think the belief in here is very high. The unfortunate part is there are still 15 other teams in the same situation as us. So we’re just excited to be able to dance.”
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