Sidney Crosby is under contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins for two more years, providing a rare bright spot for a team that otherwise seems to be floundering this season. The Penguins, who haven’t reached the playoffs in three years, are now struggling with a 3-6-1 record through their first 10 games. Their recent road trip through Western Canada was a tough one, with just a single point earned out of a possible eight. During this stretch, they allowed 18 goals while scoring only nine in four games against the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks.
Defensive issues have plagued Pittsburgh since the season began. Leading the league in goals allowed with 42, they are also tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the most shots allowed per game at 35. Tristan Jarry, their starter, had a rocky start and was sent back to Pittsburgh from the road trip for a conditioning stint in the AHL, following his last NHL appearance on October 16. Rookie Joel Blomqvist, just 22 years old, has been thrust into a high-pressure role, showing promise with 3.7 goals saved above expected in five appearances. However, Blomqvist’s impressive individual performance has often been overshadowed by a lack of defensive support from the team in front of him.
In Friday night’s 4-0 loss to Edmonton, Blomqvist made history as the first NHL goalie this season to face 50 shots in a single game, which earned him the game’s third star despite the defeat. With just four starts under his belt, he has already faced the sixth-highest shot total in the league, highlighting the challenges of introducing a young goaltender to the NHL under such intense conditions. For Saturday’s back-to-back matchup against the Canucks, Alex Nedeljkovic took over goaltending duties, giving Blomqvist a break.
Pittsburgh began Saturday’s game in Vancouver with an early lead, scoring twice and benefiting from a slow start from the Canucks. However, once Vancouver’s star Elias Pettersson found the back of the net, momentum quickly shifted. Vancouver scored four unanswered goals in the second period, erasing the Penguins’ initial 2-0 lead and ultimately sealing a 4-3 victory. Pittsburgh’s defense struggled with positioning and coverage, allowing Vancouver easy access to high-danger scoring areas. Forward Rickard Rakell acknowledged these issues, expressing frustration over repeated defensive lapses.
“There were just breakdowns of us being on the wrong side of the puck and not covering the most dangerous areas on the ice, in front of the net,” Rakell said. “Giving up so many easy scoring chances. I mean, there were obviously some tough bounces for us, but I mean, we got to prevent that. That was just, like, one after one after one. We got to find a way to settle down, restart.”
Saturday’s game was marked by notable performances from former Penguins players. Teddy Blueger, drafted by Pittsburgh in 2012, assisted on Kiefer Sherwood’s game-tying goal just seconds after Pettersson got Vancouver on the board. Another former Penguin, Daniel Sprong, used his speed to get around Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and set up Arshdeep Bains for his first NHL goal, which ended up as the game-winner.
These former Penguins are now key pieces of a Canucks team that has been revitalized under the leadership of President Jim Rutherford, who took on the role shortly after being hired by the Canucks following a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh in December 2021. At that time, Vancouver’s season was also off to a rough start, leading to the firing of then-GM Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green. Rutherford’s impact on the Canucks has been significant, aided by former Penguins personnel like GM Patrik Allvin and head coach Rick Tocchet. Together, they have restructured Vancouver’s roster and built a competitive team that is currently second in the Pacific Division with a 4-1-2 record, underscoring the franchise’s turnaround.
Seeing former Penguins thriving in Vancouver likely stings for Pittsburgh fans and staff. As Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ president of hockey operations, and head coach Mike Sullivan work to find solutions for their struggling team, Vancouver’s progress serves as a bittersweet reminder of what might have been. But it’s still early in the season, with 72 games left to play. The Penguins have time to find their footing, as emphasized by Nedeljkovic’s comments following the loss in Vancouver.
We’ve got to find a way to nip it in the bud right now,” Nedeljkovic said. “Regroup and look for a good, strong effort at home on Tuesday.
The Penguins will need to prioritize defensive improvements and find a way to ease pressure on their goaltenders if they want to reverse their fortunes. This early stretch has shown that Pittsburgh can still be competitive in spurts, but they must address their defensive structure and maintain focus if they hope to return to playoff form.
