Sidney Crosby, Penguins Not Panicking After Slow Start to 2026-27 Season
· Yahoo Sports
Sidney Crosby, Penguins Not Panicking After Slow Start to 2026-27 Season originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Penguins qualified for the playoffs last season for the first time since 2021–22. While the start to the 2026-27 season hasn’t gone as planned, Pittsburgh still aims for playoff hockey this year.
Pittsburgh lost to the Avalanche 5-2 on Friday night. It was the second straight loss for the Penguins, and the start of a three-game road trip out west. The team is 3-4 on the year, a different start after going 5- 2 last season.
Sidney Crosby moved into seventh on the NHL’s all-time assists list. However, he knows it’s a team effort. He also knows how tough the Avalanche are. Whether it’s not scoring or costly turnovers, Crosby believes the Penguins can improve.
"We knew it was going to be tough coming in here," Crosby said via The Athletic. "We handled it really well early. We just made some mistakes. And right now, we just need to clean up those mistakes. That’s the game."
The Penguins were aggressive in the first period with two goals. The team didn’t keep their foot on the gas pedal for the rest of the game.
Despite early struggles, the Penguins still offer some value.
Erik Karlsson has eight assists and eight points, while Evgeni Malkin has four goals. Bryan Rust, with three goals and three assists this year, believes the long season will help.
"No," Rust said when asked if it was time to panic. "It’s eight games into the season. There are areas where we quickly need to get better. But I wouldn’t say the red light is flashing. We just need to be better."