The Pittsburgh Penguins return home for a Sunday evening contest against the Ottawa Senators. The last time they played at home, the Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets before a disastrous three-game road trip.
In the first game, they took the reigning Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers, to a shootout, only to lose 4-3. Then, in Tampa Bay, the Penguins were blown out 6-1, followed by a 7-3 loss against the Buffalo Sabres.
After those two performances, Pittsburgh has given up at least six goals in back-to-back contests for the fourth time this decade: 2021 (two), 2022, and 2025.
The Penguins have given up six or more goals in back-to-back contests 71 times in franchise history.
Meanwhile, the Penguins' most recent performance against the Senators, a 5-0 loss on Jan. 11, suggests they may extend the streak for one more game.
If the Senators manage to net six goals on Sunday, it will be the 17th time the Penguins surrendered that many in three games, with the most recent one occurring between Nov. 7 and No. 12, 2003.
Considering Pittsburgh's next contest is against the hottest team in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues, winners of their last nine straight, this goals-against streak could fall into the top four worst stretches in team history.
The Penguins' record for consecutive games giving up six or more goals is five, which occurred between Feb. 2 and Feb. 10, 1983. Next is four games, achieved twice during the 1983-84 seasons, first between Nov. 16 and Dec. 3 and again on Jan. 22 and Jan. 28.
Through 72 games, the Senators have scored six goals in a game four times, with a season-high eight in two games in October.
Meanwhile, St. Louis has scored seven goals three times and tallied six on four occasions. Moreover, there's no rest for the weary, as the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh's opponent next Saturday, are the fourth-highest-scoring team in the NHL and already put up a seven spot on the Penguins earlier this season.
