History says don’t panic: Penguins have overcome slow starts before

The Pittsburgh Penguins have encountered a challenging start to the 2026-27 NHL season. After opening 2-0 — highlighted by a dominant 7-0 victory over the rival Philadelphia Flyers and a 6-5 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens — the team has lost seven of its last eight games. This has left the Penguins with a 3-6-1 record and a mere seven points in the standings. Read more: History says don’t panic: Penguins have overcome slow starts before.

While the early results have been disappointing, it is still only October, and a substantial portion of the season remains. Historical evidence shows that a slow start does not necessarily determine a team’s final outcome.

Past early stumbles

In fact, two of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championships followed seasons that began slowly.In 2008-09, the Penguins finished October with a 5-4-2 record (12 points). They struggled into February, posting a 27-25-5 mark before dismissing head coach Michel Therrien.

Following the appointment of Dan Bylsma, the team surged and finished the regular season at 49-28-9 with 99 points. The Penguins then defeated the defending champion Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final to capture their third championship.

A similar scenario unfolded in 2015-16. After a 15-10-3 start, the organization replaced head coach Mike Johnston with Mike Sullivan. The Penguins finished the season 48-26-8 and defeated the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup Final. The following year, they went back-to-back and won the Cup against the Nashville Predators.

Another example is the 2021-22 season, in which the Penguins earned only 8 points in October while playing without Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. The team rallied upon Crosby’s return in November, despite additional absences related to COVID-19 protocols. Pittsburgh surged in December and January with 17 combined wins across those two months, finishing the season 46-25-11 with 103 points to clinch its 16th consecutive playoff berth.

A shared throughline

Although the rosters and circumstances differ from those of earlier eras, these examples demonstrate the current situation is not insurmountable.

Under the leadership of captain Sidney Crosby, who continues to perform at an elite level, the Penguins retain ample opportunity to reverse their fortunes and contend for a playoff position. The franchise has successfully navigated similar challenges in the past.

Looking ahead

The Penguins will now return home to PPG Paints Arena for games against the Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Utah Mammoth. Securing victories in two of these three contests would place the team near its historical October average of approximately 13 points (projected at 11 points with two wins). Notably, the 2026-27 season marks the first in decades with an 84-game regular-season schedule, compared with the previous 82-game format.

Winning two of the three upcoming home games would therefore leave the Penguins in a position comparable to past seasons since 2008, during which they qualified for the playoffs in 14 consecutive years. While second-year head coach Dan Muse remains under evaluation, the organization has historically acted decisively when results have lagged. Provided the core trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang remains healthy, they can elevate the surrounding younger players.

By maintaining pace with the rest of the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins will have a strong opportunity to reach the postseason.