Bold takeaway: The Penguins weathered a late push from New Jersey and pulled away in the third, turning a tight game into a convincing win after the All-Star break. And this is where the details matter most for understanding how they did it.
Pregame notes
- The Penguins rolled out their first Crosby-less lineup of the season, marking Samuel Girard’s first appearance with the club. Arturs Silovs started in net.
- The visiting New Jersey Devils brought a specific lineup into the arena.
First period
- The opening minutes featured a flurry of chances from both sides, with Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin line generating early looks before New Jersey seized the momentum and forced Silovs to make a couple of sharp blocker saves.
- Pittsburgh converted on the first power play of the game. Malkin and Kris Letang moved the puck effectively, Letang fired, and Tommy Novak redirected it past Jacob Markstrom to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
- The Devils had a late opportunity in the frame but couldn’t capitalize.
- Final shots: 9-6 in favor of Pittsburgh; the power-play goal proved to be the difference.
Second period
- New Jersey adjusted and came out sharper, controlling the pace more and earning their first power play after Malkin high-sticked a Devils player.
- The Devils didn’t score on the man advantage, but momentum carried to a Cotter tip on a Dougie Hamilton shot that tied the game. Pittsburgh challenged the play for unclear reasons, and the goal stood.
- The Penguins killed the ensuing Devils power play but soon found themselves shorthanded again when Avery Hayes slashed. The penalty parade continued, and despite another opportunity on the penalty kill, Pittsburgh couldn’t convert on their second power play of the evening.
- Kris Letang then went to the box after colliding with Jesper Bratt. Connor Dewar produced a timely defensive effort to sustain the Penguins’ defensive efforts.
- The period’s low point: with about two minutes left, another Devils power play arrived, this time courtesy of Simon Nemec. Pittsburgh again failed to capitalize on late opportunities to regain the lead.
- Goaltending was pivotal as Silovs saved what could have been the go-ahead tally and kept the game tied entering the third.
Third period
- Pittsburgh started the final frame with high energy. The Hayes–Rakell–Rust line pushed the pace, and Ryan Shea’s hard shot hit the post, redirecting off Connor Clifton’s skate and into the net as Markstrom appeared out of position. Pittsburgh led 2-1.
- Shortly after, Malkin sprung Egor Chinakhov, who attacked the net and neatly redirected the puck across Markstrom to make it 3-1 Penguins.
- With under four minutes remaining, New Jersey pulled Markstrom for a 6-on-4 press. The late pressure produced a turnover as Blake Lizotte intercepted a Hamilton pass, skating in to score an empty-netter and seal the 4-1 win.
Key takeaways and analysis
- Faceoffs become a concern without Sidney Crosby. Crosby typically dominates draws, contributing a large share of the Penguins’ faceoffs this season (about 39% of the team’s total in 2025-26 so far). In this game, the Penguins won just 40% of the draws, with top centers struggling (Rakell around 30%, Lizotte and Novak at 33%).
- Coaching decisions: Dan Muse’s challenges on goaltender interference were ineffective in this game, continuing a concerning trend. The team needs sharper decision-making on those calls going forward.
- Goaltending impact: Samuel Silovs was a standout, giving the Penguins a reliable performance when the game tightened. His play helped Pittsburgh survive extended pressure and allowed them to strike back in the third.
- Special teams and forechecking: The Penguins’ penalty kill was excellent, with a perfect 5-for-5 showing including Lizotte’s empty-netter. The team also showed improved urgency on the penalty kill as the Devils pressed in the second.
- Offensive depth and timely scoring: Beyond Malkin, the team received crucial contributions from Letang, Shea, Clifton, and Chinakhov. The third period highlighted a balanced attack and strong finishing, enabling the late separation in the score.
- Overall record context: Pittsburgh improves to 11-1-5 against division opponents, a big point total in the race for a playoff spot.
Bottom line
This win signals that the Penguins can close out games even when missing their captain. They leaned on solid defense, a standout performance from Silovs in net, and timely offense in the third to pull away from a stubborn Devils club.
Next up
The Penguins face a busy weekend with two afternoon games, beginning in New York against the Rangers on Saturday.
