The Pittsburgh Penguins face a crucial week ahead as they navigate a congested schedule and aim to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Key storylines revolve around Sidney Crosby's continued pursuit of history, the team's injury woes, and their overall performance as the new year approaches.
Crosby's Chase for History
Sidney Crosby continues to etch his name in the Penguins' record books. He recently surpassed Mario Lemieux to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer. In his 21st season, Crosby remains an elite force, leading the team with 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 36 games. Each point Crosby tallies further cements his legacy and marks the passing of the torch from Lemieux's era.
Injury Updates: Malkin and Lizotte
The Penguins have been battling the injury bug, particularly down the middle. Veteran center Evgeni Malkin has been sidelined since early December with an upper-body injury. While he has resumed skating on his own, his return is still weeks away. However, there is some positive news on the injury front as Blake Lizotte returned to the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks on December 28. His presence provides a significant boost to the bottom-six forward group and the penalty kill.
Playoff Push and Standings
The Penguins find themselves in a precarious position as 2026 approaches. Currently sitting 7th in the Metropolitan Division with a 15-12-9 record (39 points), they are in a fight to remain relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff race. A difficult December, marked by a 3-5-4 record, has them just a few points out of a wild card spot, but also dangerously close to the bottom of the conference. The team needs to find consistency and string together wins to climb the standings. The Penguins are struggling to close out games and have surrendered multi-goal leads in recent losses.
This Week's Schedule
The Penguins face a challenging schedule this week: * December 28: @ Chicago Blackhawks, 7:00 PM ET * December 30: vs Carolina Hurricanes, 7:00 PM ET * January 1: vs Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 PM ET * January 3: @ Detroit Red Wings, 12:00 PM ET
The game against the Hurricanes is a crucial divisional matchup. The team will also face the Red Wings in a home-and-home series, with the January 1st game being played on New Year's Day.
