The Pittsburgh Penguins head into their April 6, 2025 matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks carrying the weight of a season that has unraveled under the strain of unmet expectations, injury setbacks, and an aging core struggling to keep pace with the NHL’s evolving landscape. With a record of 29-34-11, the Penguins have officially fallen out of playoff contention—a rare and sobering reality for a franchise that has been a perennial contender for much of the last two decades. Led by future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby, who continues to compete at a high level despite the team’s broader struggles, the Penguins have found it difficult to maintain consistent offensive pressure throughout the year. Their total offensive output has been among the bottom third in the league, and beyond Crosby, only a few players have provided regular scoring support. Jake Guentzel’s absence due to injury for long stretches has severely hindered their top-six chemistry, while Evgeni Malkin’s production has declined as age and wear have caught up with him. Depth scoring has been hit-or-miss, with players like Rickard Rakell and Reilly Smith having moments but lacking the consistency needed to support the team’s stars. The power play, once a weapon that could turn games around, has regressed significantly, plagued by stagnant puck movement, poor shot selection, and predictability that opposing penalty kills have exploited with ease. Defensively, Pittsburgh has fared no better. The team has allowed 229 goals this season, a statistic that underlines their struggles with positioning, zone coverage, and in-game awareness.

Kris Letang remains a vital presence on the blue line but has shown signs of wear from the heavy minutes he’s logged over the years. Injuries have forced the Penguins to test their defensive depth, often relying on AHL call-ups and rotational players who have yet to find their footing at the NHL level. The goaltending situation has been unstable, with Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic both seeing extended time in net but neither asserting themselves as a dependable number one. Jarry, in particular, has faced criticism for inconsistent performances and poor rebound control in key moments, while Nedeljkovic’s play has been erratic, making it difficult for the team to build defensive confidence. The penalty kill has been serviceable but far from elite, and the team’s inability to convert on power plays has often left them on the wrong end of tight, low-scoring games. Statistically, the Penguins are one of the least profitable teams ATS, with a record of 26-46, reflecting how often they’ve failed to meet both internal and external expectations. As they travel to Chicago for their penultimate road games of the year, the emphasis for head coach Mike Sullivan will be on professionalism, pride, and preparation for the organization’s next chapter. With younger players like Drew O’Connor and Valtteri Puustinen getting looks, the Penguins are quietly shifting toward a future that blends the fading brilliance of their legendary core with the urgency of finding a new identity. A strong performance on the road would be less about redemption and more about resilience—a final push to show that, despite the season’s failures, the team still has fight, integrity, and a foundation to build upon.