Penguins Stumble in 4-1 Loss to Dallas Stars at Home

The Penguins took another hit last night, falling 4-1 to the Dallas Stars at PPG Paints Arena. This marks their third straight loss, following defeats to St. Louis and Detroit. It’s like they’re playing a game of musical chairs, but the music’s stopped and they’re the ones left standing—without a chair. The team needs to find its groove again before this losing streak turns from a hiccup into a habit.

Geno had a rough night, with a -3 on the plus-minus and only a 27.3% faceoff win rate. That’s not what you want to see from Malkin, especially since he was leading the team after the first three games. Letang and Graves? They were a liability in the blue paint, which is where most of the issues for the Penguins lay, outside of the defensive breakdowns getting back in transition.

The Pens have been lacking physicality for years, and it was glaringly evident last night against the Stars. Another issue that stood out was the missed shots. The Pens had their chances, they just couldn’t capitalize. The PK unit is holding its own, sitting at 82.4% so far this season, which is a silver lining when you’re racking up penalties. But that power play unit is a different story. They’re sitting at a 12.5% success rate, managing just 2 goals on 16 opportunities. This was an area we all thought would improve with the off-season roster changes.

Nedeljkovic had a rollercoaster of a night in goal, making some highlight-reel saves but also some head-scratching decisions. Case in point: that third Dallas goal. He ventured out of his net to clear the puck and ended up doing a spin on the ice after a collision. That move extinguished any flicker of a comeback. When it comes to clearing the zone, that’s a job best left to the defense, not the goalie.

Not all was bad, though. Rust continues to shine offensively, providing the Pens’ only bright spot with a goal. And let’s not forget, the Pens are creating scoring opportunities; they’re just not cashing in. I’m convinced that if they can dial in on those missed shots, there’s a good chance they’ll turn things around. Here’s to hoping they find their aim—and soon.

Next Up for the Pens

The Pens’ next matchup is against the Colorado Avalanche, who are currently undefeated with a 6-0 record. Their top scorer, Mikko Rantanen, has already tallied 12 points. On our end, the Pens are 2-4, and the goalie stats are less than stellar: Jarry’s at a .892 save percentage, and Nedeljkovic is at .914. This game is shaping up to be a real test for the Pens.

All stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.