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The highs and lows of young goalies (and other quick Penguins thoughts)

I am not going to say the Pittsburgh Penguins played a perfectly clean, crisp game on Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Because they didn’t. They were sloppy at times, some of their puck management and puck support was bad…

Published: Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at 2:54 PM
The highs and lows of young goalies (and other quick Penguins thoughts)
Key Things to Know
  • Adam Gretz argues the Penguins must accept the volatile highs and lows of young goaltender Sergei Murashov.
  • Murashov struggled in a loss to Chicago after allowing four goals, including a late weak goal.
  • The Penguins went 0-for-4 on the power play, marking five straight games without a power-play goal.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Writer Adam Gretz argues that the Pittsburgh Penguins must prepare for inevitable volatility with young goaltender Sergei Murashov. Despite an impressive showing earlier against Columbus, Murashov struggled in a Tuesday loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, notably allowing a late fourth goal on a low-percentage shot after Pittsburgh had battled back from a two-goal deficit. Gretz asserts that while Murashov boasts high potential, young goaltending inherently produces inconsistent results.

Gretz also highlights other ongoing concerns for the Penguins, pointing to an 0-for-4 power-play performance that extended a five-game drought without a power-play goal. Additionally, he critiques Rickard Rakell's lack of offensive production despite increased ice time on Sidney Crosby's top line, while praising Nicholas Robertson's strong play and arguing he deserves a promotion from the fourth line.

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