The Pittsburgh Penguins are now officially at their All-Star break and it probably is coming at the absolute perfect time. They have played a tough stretch of games, have a condensed schedule ahead, and are in the middle of their longest losing streak of the season (four games, with three of them coming in overtime or a shootout). This is a good time for a week away from the rink.
So here are some random thoughts on where this team is at the unofficial halfway point of the 2021-22 NHL season.
Big picture outlook
They are way ahead of where most people expected them to be this season.