The Pittsburgh Penguins will take the ice three times this week (Feb. 23- March 1) after the 2026 Winter Olympics have now concluded, with the United States winning gold over Canada in overtime. The Penguins will be looking to keep themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot while also dealing with the possibility of missing their captain, Sidney Crosby.
Can The Kids Make a Full-Time Impact?
Heading into the Olympic break, the Penguins saw a couple of young players make their way into the lineup and make a strong impact, including Avery Hayes and Rutger McGroarty. During the break, both players were sent back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to get some playing time in the American Hockey League (AHL). Both were standouts for the “baby” Penguins over the past couple of weeks and could be in line to get another shot at the NHL level.
The big question is whether they will get a true shot and take that chance and run with it. Hayes looked great in the chance he was given to play with the Penguins against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 5 with his first two NHL goals, and from the sounds of it, he could be heading back to the NHL lineup for the upcoming three games. McGroarty continued to show that he can be an impactful player and could follow in Hayes’ footsteps.
If both can show they can be full-time NHL players heading into the trade deadline, general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas could look to possibly move a veteran or two who are on expiring contracts to clear the way for the young duo to get even more playing time.
Good & Bad News on the Injury Front
Before the Olympic break, defenseman Kris Letang was out of the lineup due to a fractured foot. The good news on that front is that he will be ready to go for the Penguins when they take on the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26. While the veteran has not had the strongest of seasons, he is still a strong asset to have in the lineup for the Penguins.
Related: 3 Metropolitan Division Teams That Could Challenge the Penguins’ Playoff Position
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the news is a bit more up in the air when it comes to Sidney Crosby. The Penguins’ captain got injured in the quarterfinals of the Olympics and did not play in either of Canada’s final two games of the tournament. It is yet to be known what his status will be upon the NHL’s return this week, but with Dubas on the Canadian Olympic management team, it is almost certain that a plan is already in place.
If Crosby is to miss any time, it will be a major hole to fill for the Penguins as they look to stay in the playoff hunt and give themselves a legit chance at getting back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after failing to do so the past two seasons.
Staying the Course
Heading into the break, the Penguins did lose two of their final three games, but before that, they did go on a six-game win streak. Getting back on track and going on win streaks starts this week. They currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division, and if they want to stay there, they will need to stay the course with their strong play.
Obviously, with the possibility of missing Crosby, it puts a bit of a wrench in things, so other players will need to step up their game to give the Penguins the production they need at both ends of the ice.
Penguins Schedule Feb. 23- March 1
| Date | Opponent | Time | Venue | Game Notes |
| Feb. 26 | vs New Jersey Devils | 7:00 p.m. (EST) | PPG Paints Arena | Third meeting of the season (0-1-1 vs New Jersey) |
| Feb. 28 | @ New York Rangers | 12:30 p.m. (EST) | Madison Square Garden | Fourth meeting of the season (2-1-0 vs New York) |
| March 1 | vs Vegas Golden Knights | 1:00 p.m. (EST) | PPG Paints Arena | First meeting of the season |
