Penguins’ Goaltending Woes Raise Questions About Future Decisions

The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves at a crossroads as their goaltending struggles become increasingly evident. Once ranked sixth in the NHL with an impressive average of 2.78 goals against per game, the team’s defensive performance has plummeted over the past three weeks. Now, after allowing an alarming 4.17 goals per game in their last 11 outings, the Penguins sit at the bottom of the league, raising concerns about their postseason aspirations.

In a striking reversal, the Penguins have surrendered six or more goals in six of their recent games. Excluding a 7-2 victory against Colorado, the average goals allowed skyrockets to 4.80, emphasizing the urgency for change. The team’s defensive lapses have highlighted not only the struggles of their defensive unit but also the performance of their goalies, particularly Arturs Silovs.

Silovs’ recent statistics paint a troubling picture. Following a stellar 5-0 shutout against Vegas on March 1, his Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAA) peaked at +5.45. However, after a rough outing against Colorado, where he allowed five goals, Silovs’ GSAA has dipped to -1.85. This downward trajectory follows a challenging stretch in December and January, where he struggled to keep up, culminating in a disastrous -3.38 GSAA performance in his latest game.

In contrast, Stuart Skinner has fared somewhat better on the GSAA metric. Skinner peaked at +10.13 GSAA after a tight 3-2 victory over Vancouver on January 25, but his numbers have also waned, now resting at +8.55 for the season. His overall performance, including a +4.83 GSAA since joining the Penguins, showcases a more consistent, if not entirely reliable, goaltending option.

The pressing question now revolves around how the Penguins’ coaching staff and management will respond to these unsatisfactory goaltending displays. Silovs has allowed four or more goals in five of his last six starts, yet the team has maintained a consistent rotation between him and Skinner. Remarkably, Skinner has only started consecutive games once this season, indicating a deliberate effort to evenly split the workload.

Despite these challenges, the Penguins have potential reinforcements waiting in the wings. Sergei Murashov, a promising 21-year-old, currently ranks second in the AHL with a 2.20 GAA and third with a .919 save percentage. Meanwhile, Joel Blomqvist holds a solid 12-5-4 record and is tied for 14th in save percentage at .906. However, Murashov’s early NHL experience left something to be desired, as he posted a negative GSAA in three of his five starts during the 2025-26 season.

With crucial matchups against the Islanders and Red Wings looming on the horizon, the decision to introduce an untested player like Murashov could be fraught with risk. Yet, the ongoing struggles of Silovs make this a conversation worth having. The Penguins have a history of goaltenders stepping up in critical moments, reminiscent of Johan Hedberg’s memorable arrival and Matt Murray’s emergence a decade ago. Elevating Murashov to a pivotal role this spring would require significant conviction from the coaching staff, especially as each game passes with the Penguins’ defensive issues unresolved.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.