Three weeks removed from their last game in Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Penguins return to action this evening at PPG Paints Arena against the New Jersey Devils. They have 26 games left on their 2025-26 schedule and currently sit second in the Metropolitan division in playoff positioning.
On the downside, they will have to play the majority of those remaining 26 games without Sidney Crosby who will be sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered at the Olympics. That puts his minimum timeline for return sometime around the last week of March and that is the best-case scenario. Until then, it’s next man up as the Penguins enter their toughest and most important stretch of the season.
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Puck drop tonight is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
Pens Points…
After what felt like an agonizing wait, we learned the fate of Sidney Crosby after his injury at the Olympics last week. It’s not the worst-case scenario, but the Penguins will be without their captain for at least the next four week as he recovers from an upper-body injury suffered against Czechia. [Pensburgh]
One person who still believes in the Penguins despite the Crosby injury is Crosny himself. He knows they are in a good position and they have the talent to still perform and win without him in the lineup. That is easier said then done but Crosby’s faith in the team should inspire some confidence. [Trib Live]
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There will be a new face wearing a Penguins uniform when the team takes on the Devils tonight, with Samuel Girard now in the fold after being acquired on Tuesday for Brett Kulak. Girard is a former Stanley Cup champion who will be looking for a fresh start with the Penguins. [Pensburgh]
For Girard, transitioning to Pittsburgh is going to take some time after spending almost the entirety of his career in Colorado to this point. He’ll be dropped into a heated playoff race which should make the move easier since that is exactly the same situation he saw with the Avalanche. [Trib Live]
It didn’t take the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins long to get back to their winning ways after being swept the weekend prior. Last week, the Baby Pens went a perfect 3-for-3, moving to 8-1-1 in their past 10 games and further solidifying a potential bye in the Calder Cup playoffs. [Pensburgh]
NHL News and Notes…
Fresh off leading Canada to a silver medal, John Cooper’s return to the Tampa Bay Lightning bench will be delayed until Saturday as Cooper returns home following the death of his father. Cooper will miss two games as assistant coach Rob Zettler takes over in the interim. [NHL]
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If the NHL is expecting a big viewership bump on the heels of an exciting Olympic tournament they may come out disappointed in the end. History suggests that won’t be the case when compared to the past despite seeing record viewership numbers for the gold medal game in Milan. [Awful Announcing]
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