The Pittsburgh Penguins return to game action this weekend with two games in Sweden against the Nashville Predators. Before they play let us take a look at some stunning numbers that have stood out from
their first 17 games of the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
Suddenly elite goaltending
Nothing changes a team’s short-term outlook — both good and bad — quite like goaltending does. It is the biggest X-factor in the sport, and if you show me a Jack Adams winner or a team that overachieves I will probably be able to show you a great goaltending experience.
There are a lot of factors driving the Penguins’ strong start this season, but shockingly strong goaltending has to be near the top of the list.
Entering play on Thursday the three Penguins goalies — Tristan Jarry, Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov — have combined for the second-best all-situations save percentage in the NHL at .910. Their .915 mark during 5-on-5 play is ninth best in the NHL.
By comparison, over the previous three years combined the Penguins goalies ranked 23rd (5-on-5) and 21st (all-situations) in the NHL.
It has masked a lot of defensive flaws. The question will be how long they can keep doing that.
Penguins generating chances at top-tier rate
While the goaltending has been tremendous, the Penguins have also been outstanding at generating offense.
Not only in terms of goals, and not only on the power play, but just in their ability to generate chances.
Entering play on Thursday the Penguins are third in the NHL in 5-on-5 high-danger scoring chances (13.5) per 60 minutes and seventh in the NHL (2.81) in expected goals per 60 minutes.
Good signs. But it does bring up the consistent question of can they convert those into goals consistently?
Also can they prevent enough going back the other way defensively.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin: Still dominating offensively
When it comes to this fast start, do not discount the pride that elite athletes have in being told they can not do something.
All the Penguins heard this offseason was that they were going to be bad, that they should tank for Gavin McKenna, and that everybody should get traded. Players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are not going to stop competing.
They are both in the top-16 in scoring this season despite the fact they are 38 and 39 years old.
What is the stunning number here: Other than John Tavares and Mark Scheiefele they are the only two players in the top-16 age 31 or older.
Malkin entered Thursday tied for the league lead in assists, but went to third after some big games from Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid on Thursday. Whether it has been Justin Brazeau, Anthony Mantha or Tommy Novak every player the Penguins have put him with this season has simply clicked.
Milestones approaching
Crosby is just 26 points away from matching Mario Lemieux for the franchise’s all-time points lead and 27 points away from passing him.
Bryan Rust is only 14 points behind Jake Guentzel for 11th on the franchise’s all-time points list and only 49 points from moving ahead of Syl Apps for a spot in the top-10. Think about where Rust’s career began as a mid-round draft pick and at times afterthought prospect, to eventually becoming a top-10 scorer in the history of the franchise. It is not a stretch to think he could get there this season if he does not get traded before then.
