The Pittsburgh Penguins have been doing things no one thought they would all season long. The latest achievement – making the playoffs – solidified the turnaround of the Penguins from “clear rebuild” to “one final run.”
Getting ready to face a familiar foe in the playoffs, the Penguins faced another familiar foe on Sunday in the Washington Capitals. In what was clearly a mailed-in performance, the Penguins dropped a boring 3-0 decision to their old rivals.
The Sands of Time Falling Before Our Eyes
The biggest takeaway from this game is that we may have seen the last game between longtime rivals and faces of the league Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The Penguins paid tribute to Ovechkin, shaking hands, taking pictures, and generally enjoying a nostalgic feeling.
No one is 100% certain what the future holds for Ovechkin, and he certainly isn’t telling anyone. But if we really have seen the last chapter in the Crosby-Ovechkin saga, it is a stark reminder of the march of time and how unrelenting it can be.
For those who have been lucky enough to watch this historic rivalry from the start, it cannot be overstated just how much of a privilege this has been. The league was in far greater turmoil than most remember, and these two stepped in as rookies and carried the league on their backs for 20 years. They are Bird and Magic. They are Manning and Brady. They are Ali and Frazier. They are Gretzky and Lemieux. We are just fortunate to have been along for the ride.
This Game Helped Underscore the Turnaround
The Penguins came into this one and basically mailed it in, which also works to underscore just how massive a turnaround they have had this season. After finishing second-from-last in the Metropolitan Division with 80 points, they found the right pieces and made an 18-point jump into the playoffs.
Related: How Dan Muse Helped the Penguins ‘Flip the Script’ in Year 1
Look at the team a season ago. Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell had very good seasons, but goaltending and team defense were abysmal. Though goaltending isn’t exactly worlds better, the Penguins have found depth scoring and done just enough defensively to swing the momentum back around.
General Manager Kyle Dubas has a plethora of assets and cap flexibility to make this team even better in 2026-27. The rebuild has been accelerated to such a degree that it basically never happened in the first place. That kind of turnaround is rare and the Penguins should be commended.
Skinner Making His Case for Game 1 Starter
Though the game ended in a 3-0 shutout, it was a solid overall effort from Stuart Skinner. He allowed two goals on 25 shots, his second consecutive start allowing just two goals. Both he and Arturs Silovs have solid if unspectacular, leading to some debate as to who should get the nod in Game 1.
Skinner has the clear experience edge, having been the goaltender of choice for the Edmonton Oilers as they made back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. He may not be the ideal choice, but he feels like the best option for this Penguins team.
If anything, tempered expectations may help him. He was carrying a massive burden playing for those Oilers teams; in Pittsburgh, he’s already playing on house money. If he can help them win a round, it might be just what he needs to build momentum and find his game.
Gearing Up for the Playoffs
At this stage, the Penguins are 100% focused on the playoffs. They close out the regular season on Tuesday with a road game against the St. Louis Blues. Much like this Capitals game, there is a very good chance that key pieces sit and prepare for the first round of the playoffs.
With it looking more and more like the Philadelphia Flyers will be on the docket, nostalgia will run wild again. Though these are two distinctly different teams than those that played in those old battles, it will be nice to see these rivals square off once again.
