Penguins Shootout Woes Reveal Deeper Mental Challenges

Ville Koivunen's struggles highlight the paradox of talent vs. confidence in the NHL

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:40am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey shootout scene, with sharp planes of navy blue, gold, and white overlapping to create a sense of motion and chaos, conceptually representing the mental obstacles the Penguins face in these high-pressure situations.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes tension and unpredictability of a Penguins shootout, reflecting the team's mental challenges in these pressure-filled moments.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled mightily in shootouts this season, going just 3-11. While goaltender Stuart Skinner has shown improvement, the team's broader issues with consistency and adaptability under pressure have been exposed. Meanwhile, young forward Ville Koivunen's lack of confidence has led to a paradoxical cycle of poor performance and further loss of self-belief. These challenges suggest the Penguins are facing deeper mental blocks that go beyond just skill and practice.

Why it matters

The Penguins' shootout struggles and Koivunen's plight are more than just isolated issues - they're symptoms of larger trends in the team's dynamics. Shootouts test individual skill under pressure, and the Penguins' repeated failures suggest a deeper mental block that goes beyond just roster construction or practice routines. This highlights the universal challenge in sports of teams getting stuck in patterns and failing to adapt and innovate when facing adversity.

The details

In the first 11 shootout attempts this season, the Penguins managed just a single win. However, there have been signs of progress, with goaltender Stuart Skinner improving his save percentage from .350 to .552. Players like Ben Kindel have also found success with simpler, more unpredictable moves. But the team's struggles reveal that repetition alone is not enough - the quality of practice, mental adjustments, and willingness to adapt are what truly make the difference. Meanwhile, young forward Ville Koivunen has seen a dramatic drop-off in production this season, going from 7 assists in 8 games last year to just 7 points in 35 games. Koivunen has acknowledged his lack of confidence is causing him to hesitate and not play with the same physical edge that made him effective previously.

  • The Penguins are 3-11 in shootouts so far this season.
  • Skinner's save percentage has climbed from .350 to .552 over the course of the season.
  • Koivunen has just 7 points in 35 games this season, compared to 7 assists in 8 games last year.

The players

Stuart Skinner

The Penguins' goaltender, who has shown improvement in shootout situations with his save percentage climbing from .350 to .552 over the course of the season.

Ben Kindel

A Penguins player who has found success with simpler, more unpredictable moves in shootout situations.

Ville Koivunen

A young Penguins forward who has struggled with a dramatic drop-off in production this season, going from 7 assists in 8 games last year to just 7 points in 35 games this year, which he has attributed to a lack of confidence.

Kirk MacDonald

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach, who noted that Koivunen thrives when he's agitating opponents, but has been hesitating to do so at the NHL level.

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What they’re saying

“I want to chirp and agitate more, but I feel I need to perform better first.”

— Ville Koivunen, Penguins forward

What’s next

The Penguins will need to find ways to help Ville Koivunen break out of his confidence-performance cycle, potentially by giving him more ice time or pairing him with players who can reignite his spark. The team will also need to continue working on their mental approach to shootouts, focusing on quality of practice, adaptability, and a willingness to try new strategies.

The takeaway

The Penguins' struggles in shootouts and Ville Koivunen's paradoxical situation highlight the broader challenge teams face in maintaining consistency and adaptability under pressure. Success in sports is not linear, and teams must be willing to constantly reinvent themselves to overcome mental blocks and find new paths to success.