The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to find ways to win, but know they must play more of a complete game to maintain that success.
Especially against the Dallas Stars, who have been the NHL’s best team since late October.
Looking to sweep their three-game road stretch, the Penguins also try to halt the Stars’ nine-game point streak on Sunday.
Pittsburgh has won four of the last five, but blew a 3-0 lead Thursday at Tampa Bay before Evgeni Malkin broke the tie with a late goal that led to its 4-3 victory.
“Two points is two points, but I hope next game we play 60 minutes,” said Malkin, who has five points in two games after being blanked in his previous three.
While Pittsburgh has won three straight on the road and is 6-for-11 on the power play in the last three contests, it’s been whistled for 13 penalties in the last two games and yielded 40 shots on goal against the Lightning.
“Points are hard to come by, so you take the points,” but I think you also have to be honest about the things we need to clean up,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said.
Subject of trade rumors, Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry (2.61 goals-against average) made 37 saves Thursday to win his fourth straight start. Meanwhile, teammate Arturs Silovs is mired in an 0-2-2 starting stretch, and has allowed eight goals in his last two.
The Penguins snapped a four-game skid against the Stars with last season’s 5-3 win at Dallas. Sidney Crosby had three goals with an assist and Malkin added a helper in that most recent matchup.
However, Dallas has earned an NHL-best 36 points while going 16-2-4 since Oct. 25. The Stars have totaled 36 goals during their current 7-0-2 stretch, which includes three consecutive wins at home.
Dallas has remained among the NHL’s best this season, even despite injuries to key contributors such as star defenseman Thomas Harley (lower body), and veteran forwards Matt Duchene (upper body) and Tyler Seguin (torn ACL).
“This is a league where you’re pushing all of the time — the Never Happy League,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.
“High-end athletes are always pushing, and it’s your job as a coach to push them to be even better.”
Mikko Rantanen had a goal with two assists while Jason Robertson scored his team-leading 18th during Dallas’ 4-1 home victory over San Jose on Friday. Rantanen has three goals with seven assists in the last five games, and Robertson’s scored 15 times in the last 13.
Dallas’ Jake Oettinger owns a 1.80 goals-against average during his five-start winning streak, and has stopped 46 of 47 shots in the last two. Meanwhile, backup and former Penguin Casey Smith has a 2.16 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in going 6-1-3 this season.
Crosby has recorded 13 goals with 13 assists in 25 career games against the Stars. Malkin’s posted a goal and four assists in his last five games at Dallas.
Robertson has nine points in seven career games versus Pittsburgh, but failed to record any of them in the two from 2024-25.
