We are six games into the 2024-25 season and I think the Penguins are sitting exactly where most people thought they would be. Competitive against the non-playoff teams and outmatched against the better teams in the league.

They have victories over the Red Wings, Canadiens, and Sabres while dropping decisions to the Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes. Here is the breakdown of xGF% for each game

It kind of sums up the Penguins existence right now. They are between a rock and a hard place. Not bad enough to have a reasonable chance in the lottery and definitely not good enough to go up against the better teams in the league. It is what was expected and it is what is happening so I find it tough to be disappointed, upset, surprised etc...

If the Penguins do want to give it a go and make the playoffs as a lower seed they are going to have to take care of their division. The first two games of divisional play have the Penguins at a 34.78 xGF%. It is a small sample against two very good teams. However, I don’t think we’ll see sizeable improvements against those divisional foes. Throw the Devils into the mix and there’s another team I don’t think the Penguins will have a ton of success against. That leaves teams like the Islanders, Flyers, Capitals, and Blue Jackets as games they have to get up for and produce against. I think they do have the ability to do well in those types of games. It will be a matter of executing and making it happen.

For now, the Penguins will be leaving the east behind. They are going on their western Canada swing starting with the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow afternoon. Getting four points out of this stretch seems like a reasonable goal.

Thanks for reading!

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