Penguins Defeat Devils, Stay Hot After Olympic Break

Pittsburgh wins 4-1 despite missing star Sidney Crosby

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the visiting New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Thursday night, with Connor Clifton and Egor Chinakhov scoring 50 seconds apart in the third period to break open a tight contest. The Penguins, playing without injured superstar Sidney Crosby, improved to 15-3-3 since December 28th. Evgeni Malkin recorded two assists for Pittsburgh, while Arturs Silovs made 28 saves in goal. Paul Cotter scored the lone goal for the struggling Devils, who have lost five straight games.

Why it matters

The Penguins have remained a top contender in the Eastern Conference despite the absence of Crosby, showcasing their depth and resilience. Meanwhile, the Devils' recent skid has them near the bottom of the standings, raising questions about the team's direction and ability to turn things around.

The details

With the game tied 1-1 in the third period, the Penguins struck twice in quick succession to take control. Clifton's drive from the top of the circle put Pittsburgh ahead, and less than a minute later, Malkin set up Chinakhov for a breakaway goal. Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter to seal the victory for the Penguins. New Jersey struggled on the power play, going 0-for-5, and has now been outscored 15-4 during its five-game losing streak.

  • The Penguins opened the scoring with 1:09 left in the first period.
  • New Jersey answered at 4:56 into the second period.

The players

Connor Clifton

A Penguins defenseman who scored the go-ahead goal in the third period.

Egor Chinakhov

A Penguins forward who scored the insurance goal in the third period.

Evgeni Malkin

A veteran Penguins forward who recorded two assists in the game.

Paul Cotter

A Devils forward who scored the lone goal for New Jersey.

Jack Hughes

A Devils forward and U.S. Olympic hero who recorded an assist in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Penguins have proven their resilience and depth by continuing to win without their superstar Sidney Crosby, while the struggling Devils face an uphill battle to turn their season around and climb back into playoff contention.