Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin says his struggling team needs to start playing harder if it wants to return to the playoffs.

The Penguins’ goaltending crisis started when the general manager made the right decision. No, not when current GM Kyle Dubas gave Tristan Jarry a five-year, $26.875 million contract in 2023. That was the wrong decision,

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been labeled as a “game-time decision” for Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan declared Malkin’s status during an optional morning skate in Cranberry.

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed center Evgeni Malkin on Injured Reserve (IR) on Sunday, while activating forward Philip Tomasino off IR. According to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Seth Rorabaugh,

PITTSBURGH — Sitting in a quiet dressing room on Tuesday night after another blown lead turned into another crippling loss in a season increasingly filled with them, Evgeni Malkin spoke quietly.

Rickard Rakell, Cody Glass and Bryan Rust scored on the power play for the Penguins, who tallied three times in the second period to erase a 1-0 deficit. Anthony Beauvillier also scored, Glass and Rust each had an assist and Matt Grzelcyk had two helpers as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game skid.

Alex Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to have a goal and an assist, and made 40 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.

In a game that kicked off a critical seven-game road trip across the country as the Pittsburgh Penguins try to climb back into a playoff spot, they rode an efficient power play and strong goaltending on Friday while shedding some bad habits to down the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are continuing to battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but likely will be sellers at the deadline.

The Avalanche couldn’t close out a big game against the Edmonton Oilers. One of New Jersey’s top prospects is unhappy and publicly talking about it. Evgeni Malkin’s Stanley Cup rings were found, and the Bruins still have no idea how to navigate the trade deadline.

The weirdest week in Pittsburgh Penguins memory got a little weirder later Thursday evening with an update from Allegheny County police on the Evgeni Malkin burglary. Dave Molinari put it bluntly as the Penguins embark on their longest road trip in 30 years.