Where the Penguins are Now Compared to this Time Last Christmas

The Penguins dropped a touchdown on the Philadelphia Flyers on December 23rd, 2024, finding themselves 16-15-5 with 37 points (4th in Metro). Things seem to be looking up for the black and gold, but how does 2024 compare to around this time in 2023?

Record/Point Comparison

By the Christmas break this time last year, the Penguins were coming off an overtime loss to the sub-.500 Ottawa Senators, sitting them at 15-13-4 (34 points with four less games played than this season).

While on paper it seems like 2023's Christmas evaluation looks better than 2024's, last season's Penguins had several losing streaks flanking their wins, including a four-game skid to start December. This time last year is when reality seemed to be setting in for the aging team. They finished December well, but would not find consistent winning until down the stretch. At least right now, they have momentum that seems like it could be sustainable.

2024 Comparison: Slightly better.

The Power Play

It's not a pretty reminder, but it's a necessary one to bring up nonetheless when comparing seasons. By this time last year, the Penguins had a stretch of almost a month without scoring a power play goal. They went 13 games and 36 power plays without scoring a single goal. It was all-time ineptitude.

I'll die on the hill that if the Penguins had an even slightly below average power play in 2023-24, the playoffs were a lock. Somehow, the Flyers and Blue Jackets' power plays were worse than the Penguins', but when you consider the names on the Penguins power play unit, the underachieving reached generational levels of awful. It was so bad that they were almost more likely to give up a short-handed goal than they were to actually score. Woof.

When you're watching and say, "Oh no, we're getting a power play", that's...really bad.

Now speed ahead to the present day and you'll see something drastically different. The Penguins don't just have a competent power play. It's actually top 10 in the NHL - 7th in the league at 24.5%. Both units have been scoring goals at an incredible clip this season. Michael Bunting leads the team with five power play goals, and the combination of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Matt Grzelcyk are tied for the most power play assists at seven.

Literally anything is better than what the Penguins produced last year. This year it's not just average, it's a strength.

2024 Comparison: Infinitely better.

Trajectory

By Christmas time in 2023, the Penguins were just cruising along. They'd win some. They'd lose a couple more. They'd win two or three. They'd lose four. When a team can't develop consistency it creates a rift in the inner being. You don't know what to feel, so, subsequently, you don't feel anything at all.

A stark contrast can be found in the 2024 Penguins. While the losing was no more or less, this year's team has experienced just as many skids as the previous year's team. The difference is that there is a pulse with this year's team.

When the Captain is throwing his body around at the spry young age of 37, getting into tilts, and making his voice heard on the ice, you know there's something deeper going on than just complacency.

There was a moment of reckoning on the night Crosby scored his 600th career goal. For a moment I had to remind myself who he even scored it against (the Utah Hockey Club) because it was a blowout loss and a meaningless goal.

Sid is a model athlete. He's selfless and his only desire is winning games. Personal accolades are fun, but they are not his goal. When he scored a meaningless goal in a 6-1 loss (their third straight), a spark was lit. It was their wake-up call. They got sick of losing. So, naturally, they won their next four and haven't lost back to back games since.

Michael Bunting's competitive spirit has been on full display in this winning stretch, and even the churning legs of Blake Lizotte have been a welcome site. Consider also the friendly battle between Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust for who is going to stay atop the team lead in goals. When one scores, the other matches. Even Erik Karlsson, who appeared to just be going through the motions last season, is showing that he's willing to stick his neck in for the team this year.

"Cruise control" is a bad place to be for a hockey team, because when you're driving on cruise, you aren't controlling much of anything. Just your direction. In the arduous grind of the 82-game NHL season, you have to be in control of your speed. The Penguins are displaying that they are at least in control of their destiny, not leaving it up to chance like last year.

2024 Comparison: Distinctly better.

Final Thoughts

With all the drama surrounding the College Football Playoffs regarding records, numbers, and the eye test, it's easy to hone in on an aspect or two and neglect the whole picture.

Are there some areas that weren't covered that are trending down in comparison to this time last year? Absolutely. But the point is that this Penguins team is distinct from the 2023-24 team. If you watch the games, you'll see that shades of the previous year's Penguins are visible, but many of those negative aspects have been overridden by positive ones.

Could this be a one and done hot stretch? Yes, it's possible. But just look at them. There's a sparkle in their eye that wasn't there last season until it was too late. The push is starting in December this year. It's not starting in April. That bodes well for the black and gold.