Heading into this week (Jan. 26- Feb. 1), the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to find themselves right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They enter the week after winning all three games last week and return home for both of their matchups. They currently sit at 26-14-11 and second in the Metropolitan Division. Heading into this week, what is there to watch for?
Looking to Remain Hot
The Penguins head into the week on a four-game win streak and have looked solid over the past two weeks of play. They have gotten solid goaltending from both recently-acquired Stuart Skinner and Artūrs Šilovs. Playing against two teams, the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, this week, who both have the offensive firepower to put pressure on their opponents, the Penguins will need this strong play to continue.
For much of the season, the Penguins have struggled to hold third-period leads, but lately they have been better at finishing games. They did let the Vancouver Canucks get within one in their 3-2 victory on Jan. 25, but overall have been better in this aspect of the game, being a big part in their success on their road trip.
Related: Penguins Must Make Adjustments to Stay in the Playoff Race
The Penguins’ offense has gotten on track over the past two weeks after a bit of a cold start to January. Being able to keep things rolling up front, while also continuing to get production from their defensemen, will be key to keeping things on the right track as the Winter Olympic break is just around the corner.
Players like Sidney Crosby, Anthony Mantha, and Yegor Chinakhov have all had strong production and overall play over the past few weeks, playing key roles in the Penguins’ win streak. Meanwhile, 2025 first-round pick Benjamin Kindel snapped his 19-game goal drought against the Canucks and will be looking to stay on track this week.
Returning to PPG Paints Arena
The Penguins are coming off a four-game road trip, where they took all four games on the Canadian west coast. They return to PPG Paints Arena for both games this week and will look to give their fans even more to cheer about. They have been strong on home ice this season, putting up a 11-7-7 record thus far. In their last five home games, they are 2-1-2 and will look to get two more wins this week in their own rink.
Their two opponents this week have had moderate success on the road this season, so coming out strong will be key for the Penguins to extend their winning streak to five or six games. The Blackhawks and Rangers are on opposite ends of the spectrum lately in road success, though: the Blackhawks have won their last four road games, while the Rangers have dropped their last three.
Chinakhov Fitting In Well
After being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Yegor Chinakhov has seemed to mesh well quickly with the Penguins. He has already topped his total points that he had with the Blue Jackets in 29 games played (six), having reached seven points in just 13 games with the Penguins.
He has brought some extra energy and offensive play to the Penguins’ lineup and seems to have gotten the fresh start he had been looking for after plateauing with the Blue Jackets. His continued strong play and production will be key for the Penguins, not only this week but also the rest of the season.
Schedule for Week of Jan. 26- Feb. 1
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Venue | Notes |
| Jan. 29 | Chicago Blackhawks | 7:00 p.m. | PPG Paints Arena | Second matchup against the Blackhawks (Dec. 28, 7-3 win). |
| Jan. 31 | New York Rangers | 3:30 p.m. | PPG Paints Arena | Third matchup against former head coach Mike Sullivan (1-1 record). |
