PITTSBURGH — After yet another disappointing defeat, star player Evgeni Malkin sat quietly in the dressing room following an agonizing loss on Tuesday night. The Pittsburgh Penguins, struggling with a season filled with blown leads, faced a tough setback against Seattle, falling 4-2 after a promising performance through the first two periods. This loss capped off a frustrating homestand where the team managed only one victory in five games, a win earned against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Malkin, who has been an emotional leader for the Penguins alongside longtime captain Sidney Crosby and fellow teammate Kris Letang, realizes their historic partnership is approaching its twilight. Compounding Malkin’s woes, he suffered a personal loss as three of his Stanley Cup rings were reported stolen during a recent home burglary. Following the defeat to the Kraken, Malkin voiced his displeasure with the team’s performance, urging his teammates to confront their realities. “It’s not good enough,” he stated. “I hope we look in the mirror, tonight and tomorrow and start playing better.”
With the All-Star break looming just a few weeks away, the urgency is palpable. The Penguins are set to embark on a challenging seven-game road trip beginning Friday against Buffalo. They currently sit on the brink of playoff contention within a struggling Eastern Conference. As the team faces the possibility of missing out on the postseason for a third consecutive year, the stakes feel increasingly high with each defensive slip-up and missed opportunity. “We see standings,” Malkin said, acknowledging that with half the season already gone, the time to turn things around is running short. “If we want to play playoffs, we need to play so much better, every zone, every moment.”
Consistency has been a major hurdle for the Penguins throughout the season. The brief glimmer of hope they experienced between Thanksgiving and Christmas feels distant, as they’ve stumbled again, with a record of 2-5-3 over their last ten games. The loss to Seattle highlighted their struggles, particularly with two quick goals allowed in a critical third period that saw their 2-1 lead evaporate. Jamie Oleksiak and Eeli Tolvanen capitalized on defensive mistakes that led to Pittsburgh’s downfall, with Oleksiak sailing down the slot unopposed to score, followed by Tolvanen’s easy tap-in.
Defenseman Marcus Pettersson expressed his frustration, stating, “We’re giving away points. We have nobody to blame but ourselves.” The Penguins have shown they can defend — they limited Tampa Bay to just two shots in the first period recently, replicating that feat against the Kraken shortly after. Yet, errors at critical moments continue to plague the team, much to the dismay of head coach Mike Sullivan. “If I had the answer I’d fix it,” he admitted. “We simply have to do a better job (in our end) and that falls on me.”
Despite Sullivan’s accountability, Malkin believes the team’s struggles are indicative of a broader issue given their storied history and prior playoff successes. “I think everybody understands what’s going on,” he remarked, emphasizing the organization’s proud legacy. General manager Kyle Dubas has attempted to rejuvenate the roster by infusing youth, notably acquiring Philip Tomasino, who scored in the recent game. However, the team often takes one step forward only to fall back again.
Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic have had inconsistencies, with goals often allowed just minutes into games, forcing the Penguins to play from behind. While Crosby continues to shine and remain a consistent performer, averaging a point per game for nearly two decades, the Penguins struggle to find scoring. With the team being one of the oldest in the NHL, their margin for error continues to dwindle.
The upcoming road trip could provide an opportunity for the Penguins to regroup and rethink their strategy or could lead them deeper into a hole as they chase playoff hopes. There’s uncertainty on the horizon, and Malkin knows the importance of seizing the moment. “We need to play so much harder,” he concluded. The sense of urgency is clear, and the time for change is now.
