Last season, the Penguins hosted the New York Rangers to open the 2024-25 campaign and were thrashed by a score of 6-0 on home ice. This time around, it was the Rangers playing host to the Penguins at
Madison Square Garden to drop the puck on 2025-26, and the Penguins were able to exact a little revenge on their Metro division rivals with a 3-0 victory on the back of a pair of tallies from the newly acquired Justin Brazeau. Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke made their NHL debuts while Arturs Silovs tosses a shutout in his Penguins debut. [Pensburgh]
Next up for the Penguins, the home opener against the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
Pens Points…
As Dan Muse enters his first season as a NHL head coach, he’s looking to build relationships with his players along the way. With youth and experience across the Penguins roster, Muse has an unique opportunity in front of him this season. [Penguins]
While the last few Penguins seasons have been loaded with frustration and felt like a slog at times, 2025-26 casts a different feeling even if the team is not expected to be very good. There are many storylines surrounding this team that make this season one to watch. [The Athletic $$]
Of course, not all the storylines around this team will be fun with the ever present rumors and talk about Sidney Crosby and his future with the Penguins a hot topic of discussion amongst the hockey media obsessed with the topic. [ESPN]
In a sports landscape where free agency exists, it’s quite the impressive feat that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are embarking on their 20th season as teammates, something that has never before been achieved. [Sporting News]
Thanks to the Penguins social media team, fans got a behind the scenes look at a moment that Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel will never forget. Watch the moment below.
NHL News and Notes…
For local hockey watchers and prospect followers, Gavin McKenna began his season at Penn State over the weekend and did not disappoint in helping the Nittany Lions get started with a pair of wins over Arizona State. [Sporting News]
Alex Pietrangelo will not play in 2025-26, regular season or playoffs. Due to the new rules preventing cap circumvention for the playoffs, the Vegas Golden Knights had to rule out Pietrangelo for the entirety of 25-26 to get cap relief. [Daily Faceoff]
Early in the offseason, the Washington Capitals accidentally sent out an email stating that 2025-26 was going to be the final season for Alex Ovechkin. That was quickly corrected, but for Ovechkin, season No. 21 could really be his last. [The Hockey News]
