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

The Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Chicago Blackhawks in a game on October 13, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago. While the Penguins were not their best, the Blackhawks were not great either. Pittsburgh goalie Sergei Murashov, who had a strong performance against the Blue Jackets, had a rough night in Chicago, likely costing his team at least one point.

However, it is uncertain if the Penguins were outplayed by a margin of four goals. Chicago missed several chances, and Murashov faced few difficult shots in the game. The Penguins' power play issues, scoring zero goals in five consecutive games, and only one goal in the previous two attempts, compounded their loss. Rickard Rakell has been playing more minutes, averaging almost 20 per game, but has yet to score a goal.

Meanwhile, the top line has struggled, and Bryan Rust's recent scoring has been a potential bright spot. The second line, led by Nicholas Robertson, Blake Lizotte, and Connor Dewar, has been effective in difficult situations. However, Robertson's continued playing time on the fourth line has been questioned, considering the first line's lack of production.

The article emphasizes that goaltending will likely be the biggest factor in determining whether the Penguins are a playoff team or a lottery team.