It was a weekend where the Penguins needed to get four huge points against a injury riddled Panthers team on edge of elimination and they did exactly that as they were able to lock up a gap in the standings and on the score-sheet.
Pittsburgh was able to thrust themselves as of Monday morning just one win away from clinching a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and two wins away from clinching home ice advantage in the first round, against a chasing metropolitan team that is in the midst of a heavy playoff battle between four teams.
Pittsburgh also did the Florida Panthers a favour by eliminating them playoff contention officially with a loss in the first meeting on Saturday.
There were so many bright spots this weekend along with some red alerts and question marks that we will see unfold as the Penguins now have three days off after playing 20 games in 36 days.
Pittsburgh have a goalie problem, as playoff push continues
In the weekend series against the back to back Stanley Cup Champions, goal-tending continued to be a struggled as Arturs Silovs proceeded to show that he is a very leaky goaltender and there's gotta be the question of can you really go to him if you make the playoffs, especially as a potential game one starter.
Stuart Skinner had himself an unlucky weekend as he took a puck to the face during the first match-up while on the bench and now is out for an undisclosed amount of time as his eye is puffed up and doesn't look too hot. He was slated to start the second of the back to back.
Sergei Murashov will be the backup to Silovs as he arrived to PPG Paints Arena, mid-game on Sunday and will stick with the team as a re-call is set to be announced.
It was a milestone filled weekend in Pittsburgh as legends continue to make magic
Bryan Rust - 500 Career NHL Points.
Evgeni Malkin - 16 straight point per game seasons, geno now sits alone at fourth all time. He now sits one season behind Gordie Howe.
Evgeni Malkin - 1400 points in the National Hockey League, joins Crosby and Lemieux as only players in the history of the franchise to notch that plateau.
Evgeni Malkin - notched 14th career hat-trick and first hat-trick by a Penguin this season so far.
Sidney Crosby - passed Steve Yzerman for seventh all time in most points in NHL history with 1,756.
Sidney Crosby - has officially notched his 21st consecutive point per game season and broke his own record of 20 and now sits two above the great one.
Dan Muse - has become just the sixth head coach in Penguins history to win 40 or more games in their first season with the team with Sunday's win.
Playoff and Schedule Outlook with four games left
As of April 6, 2026. The Penguins currently sit at a 99.5 percent chance to make the playoffs with four games left in their regular season. Here are the opponents left.
at New Jersey Devils
vs Washington Capitals
at Washington Capitals (last time Crosby vs Ovechkin could go down)
at St. Louis Blues
It will be all teams below the playoff cut-line for the Penguins as clinching scenarios will be in play for every game for the rest of the season with a playoff spot and home ice advantage in play starting Thursday this week against the Devils.
Pittsburgh has only four possible opponents they can play in round one if they make the playoffs which are the: New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers or Washington Capitals.