Victory Means Everything: Penguins Secure Another Triumph!

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 18: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 18, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images When Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin received his five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin a week-and-a-half ago, the timing of it could not have possibly been worse. The Penguins were already playing without their captain and best player, Sidney Crosby, were in the middle of a tough and increasingly close playoff race, and were entering what was going to be by far the toughest part of their schedule.

That stretch of games included the start of a five-game road trip that would see them play nothing but potential playoff teams and Stanley Cup contenders. It could have been a major turning point in the season. Instead, the Penguins mostly got through it.

In the five games without Malkin and Crosby, the Penguins went 2-1-2 and earned six out of a possible 10 points. That is good enough. So far in the 10 games without Crosby they are 4-3-3.

That is above . 500 hockey, which is probably what they needed to do. Now they go into this week still in a playoff spot, knowing they will get Malkin back on Monday night and potentially Crosby as well.