Penguins' Inconsistencies Wasting Starts by Crosby and Guentzel
Welcome to the THW Pittsburgh Penguins Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Penguins writers.
Today we look the hot starts by Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, how the team’s inconsistencies are undermining their play, and how offseason acquisition Alex Nedeljkovic has rebounded after his own initial struggles this season.
It would also be fantastic if you’d share our Penguins Substack Newsletter with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy every day.
Now on to the good stuff…
Penguins Letting Fast Starts by Crosby, Guentzel Go to Waste
November 28, 2023 by George Majchrzak
Prior to their Nov. 24 meeting with the Buffalo Sabres, one might have expected the Pittsburgh Penguins to fare well. After all, they had already beaten them 4-0 on Nov. 11, as part of a five-game winning streak they were on at the time. Unfortunately, the game went as so many this season: the Penguins got a goal from Sidney Crosby’s line, but they couldn’t get enough support from the bottom two lines or the power play. They ultimately lost the game 3-2, sending them below .500.
The next night (Nov. 25), they faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a game which gave us another common theme from this season: another goal from Crosby’s line, a toothless power play, but the Penguins defeated a team that many would have expected them to struggle against 3-2.
Now at a mediocre 10-10-0 as we reach the quarter mark of the 2023-24 season, it’s clear that this Penguins team will continue to struggle the way it is built, in spite of goaltender Tristan Jarry’s big contract or the headline-grabbing acquisition of superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson this past summer. And that’s a real shame because that mediocrity is going to waste the great seasons both Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel are putting together so far.
Penguins’ Inconsistencies Are Starting to Haunt Them
November 26, 2023 by Sylvie McCarthy
The Pittsburgh Penguins ended a five-game winning streak in their 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Nov. 16. A few nights later, on Nov. 19, the Penguins beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0. Not only are the Golden Knights the defending Stanley Cup champions, but they are also in first place in the Pacific Division. There is no doubt that Pittsburgh has been playing much better throughout the month of November. However, they are still struggling with consistency. There are still some holes in their game, and until they fix these problems, they will continue to have problems.
Penguins’ Nedeljkovic Rebounding After Early Struggles
November 26, 2023 by Ben Wagner
Let’s face it, before this season began, one of the biggest questions surrounding the the Pittsburgh Penguins was how they would improve their goaltending. Both Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith failed to find consistency and the former struggled to stay healthy. As a result, the Penguins struggled and the entire team suffered the consequences with their first playoff miss in nearly two decades. New president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas made it a priority to address the goaltending situation, and it’s finally bearing fruit.
New Penguins’ backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract just as DeSmith was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks. While he began his tenure rather unceremoniously, his recent play with both the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and his performance against the Vegas Golden Knights during his current stint with the big club has led many to begin describing him as the backup the Penguins have been searching for after last season’s struggles.