Two practice days sandwiched between back-to-back home games – something that’s happened only twice this season – gave the Penguins hope that something would change.
It did not.
In fact, the problems that have plagued them for much of this season probably only appear larger after a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena.
Playing without Evgeni Malkin, who has an upper-body injury, the Penguins failed to produce a five-on-five goal for the second consecutive game.
Both of their goals came via the power play, and they were scored by Jake Guentzel, seeing action as a center for the second time in his young NHL career.