Welcome back to another Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 season series preview. In this article series, The Hockey News – Canucks site previews Vancouver’s team series matchups for the season in chronological order. Last time, we looked at what the Canucks will face in the Washington Capitals. Today, let’s preview their season matchups against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
2024–25 Season Stats
Team Stats:
Record: 34–36–12
Points: 80
Standings placement: 7th in Metropolitan Division
PP%: 25.8% (6th)
PK%: 77.8% (18th)
Goals:
Rickard Rakell (35)
Sidney Crosby (33)
Bryan Rust (31)
Evgeni Malkin (16)
Kevin Hayes (13)
Assists:
Sidney Crosby (58)
Erik Karlsson (42)
Rickard Rakell (35)
Evgeni Malkin / Bryan Rust (34)
Kris Letang (21)
Points:
Sidney Crosby (91)
Rickard Rakell (70)
Bryan Rust (65)
Erik Karlsson (53)
Evgeni Malkin (50)
Goaltenders:
Tristan Jarry
Record: 16–12–6
GAA: 3.12
SV%: .893
SO: 2
Points: 1A
Joel Blomqvist
Record: 4–9–1
GAA: 3.81
SV%: .885
SO: N/A
Points: N/A
Artūrs Šilovs
Record: 2–6–1
GAA: 3.65
SV%: .861
SO: N/A
Points: N/A
2025 Free Agency Rundown
The Penguins are in a curious position as a team, as they still have members of their Stanley Cup runs of the 2010s but don’t look to be contenders anytime soon. Canadian icon Crosby has expressed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh, and as a result, veteran players such as Letang and Malkin have been kept by the organization. Even so, the Penguins haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, and their free agency moves seem to indicate that this will continue to be the case. They signed forward Connor Dewar, Caleb Jones, and Anthony Mantha, as well as acquired Calder Cup Playoff MVP Šilovs in exchange for prospect Chase Stillman.
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2025–26 Season Series Preview
As mentioned, the Penguins are one of those teams who are currently leaning towards the draft pick category rather than the playoffs. If not for the presences of Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Rust, it wouldn’t be surprising if Pittsburgh was in the bottom pool of the league where the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are likely to be. One thing that makes Pittsburgh a bit less competitive is their question mark in the crease. Jarry will likely do the heavy lifting as a starter, which comes as a result of the team parting ways with Alex Nedeljkovic. While the Penguins do have options in Blomqvist and Šilovs, it’s undetermined whether either is ready for a full-time backup role in the NHL.
Vancouver faces off against the Penguins for the first time this season on October 21, with the Canucks visiting Pittsburgh for a 4:00pm PT matchup. Pittsburgh is one of the potentially easier opponents they will face on this road trip, as Vancouver will also take on the Dallas Stars and the Capitals during this stretch. Their next matchup isn’t until January 25 back in Vancouver.
2025–26 Games Against Vancouver
Game 1: October 21, 4:00pm PT @ PPG Paints Arena
Game 2: January 25, 3:00pm PT @ Rogers Arena
Season Series Preview Articles
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