theathleticuk
PITTSBURGH – A challenging week for the Pittsburgh Penguins concluded on a positive note with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. The win came after three consecutive losses in which the Penguins were thoroughly outplayed, and it came against one of the NHL's top teams.
Ben Kindel, Sidney Crosby, and Rickard Rakell all converted in the shootout to seal the win. One night after Sergei Murashov delivered a standout performance to help the Penguins earn an undeserved point against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Arturs Silovs provided another strong goaltending effort, stopping 24 of 25 shots. Silovs was 30 seconds away from a shutout, but Tyler Seguin's perfect deflection tied the game. Connor Dewar had given the Penguins a 1-0 lead early in the third period.
The game was a stark departure from earlier in the week, when the Penguins were dominated by the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, and Blue Jackets. This was a low-event game played on even terms. Coach Dan Muse had been upset all week with his team's cavalier play with the puck and lack of puck support. The Penguins were considerably better in those areas against Dallas, despite the fact that the Stars were resting in Pittsburgh on Friday while the Penguins played in Columbus. This was a far more professional performance, resembling the way the Penguins opened the season in Philadelphia.
Up next for the Penguins is a road trip to Chicago, Colorado, Vegas, and Utah. Despite a fourth straight game without a point for Crosby, who doesn't have a goal in six games, the Penguins are 3-2-1.
Key Analysis
Ten postgame observations – let's begin with Silovs. It says something about his competitiveness that he answered Murashov's outstanding outing with one of his own. He was locked in all night, and the goal he allowed was not his fault. Rebound control is everything for Silovs. When it's bad, it's extraordinarily bad. When it's good, he's a pretty good NHL goaltender. It was good against Dallas. On the whole, he's been perfectly fine this season. Blowing a 5-1 lead in the home opener against Montreal wasn't, but the work in front of him was far worse. Same with his game in Washington. Silovs has received a nasty stretch of schedule, and he's handled himself nicely. The Penguins should feel good about their goaltending.
The important word when thinking of the Penguins' performance against Dallas is professional. It wasn't flawless, but the ridiculous decisions with the puck that have plagued them in recent games were eliminated. This felt like a reset game. Muse was disturbed by some of the things he witnessed against the Capitals and Jets, and rightfully so. His team responded with sound play against a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Evgeni Malkin was superb. More than anything, his defensive work jumped out. He was back-checking like a demon. For a second consecutive season, we are witnessing high-level two-way hockey from Malkin. Malkin deserves high praise for this. This is a 40-year-old who is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has nothing to prove. But he's out there, in an October game, back-checking with conviction. He's not taking dumb penalties, he's not turning the puck over, and he almost won this game in the final seconds of overtime. (High marks to Bryan Rust, who was also a back-checking machine.)
More Spencer Stastney, please. The defenseman was impressive in his Penguins debut. His skating was as advertised. It's his great attribute. Kris Letang played his finest game of the season while Stastney was by his side. We saw Letang find his game while playing with Brett Kulak last season. Perhaps another defender who arrived in Pittsburgh via a trade with the Edmonton Oilers is what Letang needs. This pairing was dynamite. I'd like to see it again Tuesday in Chicago.
This might have been Sam Girard's best game of the season. He's been very good through six games, especially against Dallas. Girard is at his best when he gets aggressive in the offensive zone. We saw that plenty. He also recorded a couple of huge blocked shots while the Penguins were holding down the fort in the third period.
Dewar and Blake Lizotte had yet to find their 2025-26 form, but they did in this one, and that's not just a reflection of Dewar's goal. They were buzzing in every direction. Nick Robertson was on the fourth line with them, which isn't the best decision because he's too good to be there. Nonetheless, it worked in this game. Robertson was one of the best players on the ice.
Crosby showed encouraging signs even though his production funk continued. This isn't a suggestion that he's out of the woods. But he was much better than against the Blue Jackets and Capitals. There was a crispness to his game. He looked dangerous at times. Crosby was anticipating the play better Saturday. He's looked oddly tentative with the puck and a step slow at times in the first couple of weeks. That wasn't the case in this game and he deserves patience. It's obviously a slow start, and we can't deny that he's scored three goals in his past 30 games dating to last season. It's a concern. But a breakout in the not too distant future feels likely.
One night earlier, Crosby wasn't used as one of the top three shooters in a shootout for the first time in his career. He's not one to complain about such things, but it had to bother him on some level. Crosby buried a shot against Jake Oettinger in his shootout attempt Saturday, much to the delight of the home crowd, showing serious conviction in that moment.
I love watching Robertson play. He's like a slower but bigger version of Jake Guentzel in that he just knows where to go. Hockey IQ off the charts.
This was a big win for the Penguins. A much-needed one. Their goaltending and blue line are in good shape. Their forwards need to start producing and need to start clicking at a higher level. Their schedule over the next few weeks is outrageously difficult. Beating a team as good as the Stars was a good start.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.