September 23, 2026 • 12:02 AM EDT
Updated 3 hours ago
If you thought the Pittsburgh Penguins had everything clicking after their pre-season opener, Tuesday’s showdown with the Detroit Red Wings brought everyone back down to earth. After handling the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Monday, the Penguins stumbled badly in a 7-4 loss to Detroit — a scoreline that honestly tells you a lot about how sharply things went south.
This game wasn’t short on talking points. Arturs Silovs, who looked poised to stake his claim as the Penguins’ 1A netminder after last year’s playoff heroics, had a night to forget, giving up seven goals on just 23 Detroit shots. Detroit’s Michael Brandsegg-Nygard made his presence felt with two goals, and by the third period, the Penguins’ structure and discipline had pretty much vanished. According to Yahoo Sports, this game was a mess from the crease out, and the box score only tells part of the story.
Let’s get right to the heart of what happened — and why it matters for anyone thinking about laying an early-season bet on the Penguins.
- The Red Wings punished every Penguins lapse, especially in the final frame.
- Arturs Silovs struggled, creating questions about who’ll backstop the Penguins when the games matter.
- Nick Robertson’s speed and skill stood out, especially on his eye-catching shorthanded goal.
- Detroit’s young guns, led by Brandsegg-Nygard, were relentless all night.
- The Penguins’ depth forwards and defensive prospects faced a reality check.
- Physicality ramped up, highlighted by Declan Carlile’s double-minor after sticking up for Sidney Crosby.
Penguins’ Goaltending Spotlight Shifts
This wasn’t a typical preseason snoozer. Arturs Silovs needed a bounce-back, but instead, every soft spot in his game got exposed — seven goals on just 23 shots leaves no hiding. Dan Muse, the Penguins’ head coach, had Silovs’ back post-game, saying “Arty showed last year, too, what he can do in this league. So, it’s not like we’re suddenly forgetting about that. He’s a guy whose game came a long way just last year, and I believe it’s going to continue to come a long way moving forward.” The coach’s confidence matters, but so does pre-season form with Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov chomping at the bit for NHL work. It doesn’t take a math whiz to see there’s a serious goalie battle brewing in Pittsburgh.
Robertson Already Fitting Penguin Mold
There’s no missing Nick Robertson’s immediate impact. He turned heads with his penalty kill goal, showing off his speed, edgework, and fresh chemistry in new colors. Robertson looks like he’s angling for both penalty kill and first-line minutes. Muse put the nail on it, stating Robertson’s “speed, the quickness, the tenacity he plays with is obviously a major factor and a big part of his game.” If you’re looking for early-season breakout picks or props, Robertson looks like more than just a depth add here.
Ruck Twins, McGroarty, and the Kids Leave a Mark
The third line with Rutger McGroarty, Bill Zonnon, and Atley Calvert showed flashes, but like the rest of the team, tailed off as the game wore on. McGroarty’s late goal off a slick give-and-go with Markus Ruck was a glimpse of upside, but he’ll need to keep fleshing out the rest of his game to stick. The Ruck twins — Liam and Markus — looked comfortable for pre-season rookies, grabbing ice time with some of the Pens’ big names and not looking out of place. These looks are valuable, but it’s a fight to claim a regular role.
Defensive Depth: Standouts and Growing Pains
Sam Girard paired smartly with Kaedan Korczak — both making their case for third-pairing roles once the real games start. Ilya Solovyov’s solid decision-making stood out even if his skating isn’t elite, reinforcing his value as the likely seventh defenseman unless young Jake Livanavage shines later in camp. But the Penguins’ blue line depth as a whole looked stretched by Detroit’s fast, opportunistic attack.
Carlile Brings Edge, Team Still Searching for Grip
New defenseman Declan Carlile made it clear he’s not shying away from the rough stuff. After repeated shots at Crosby, Carlile snapped in the third, drawing both a double-minor and a 10-minute misconduct. That physical presence is good news, but the Penguins will want more discipline — Brandsegg-Nygard made them pay on that extended power play. As Carlile put it about his penalty, “Taking that penalty at the end, I think it was just… I kind of had enough of it throughout the game, and it is what it is.”
Key Takeaways for Bettors
- The goalie race in Pittsburgh is wide open — don’t bet blindly on last year’s story.
- Robertson’s blend of speed and two-way play puts him on breakout watch right away.
- Penguins’ defensive depth is unsettled, especially facing urgent, young opposition.
- Pre-season chemistry on new lines may shake up projected roles before opening night.
- Carlile’s snarl adds team toughness, which could keep stars like Crosby safer all season.
- The Penguins’ scoring remains a threat, but defensive holes and penalty trouble cloud early projections.
- Pittsburgh’s youth movement is real, but NHL roster spots are hardly settled.
- A single bad pre-season result won’t define the team, but weak showings by projected key players will matter to early season betting lines.
- Keep a close eye on goalie performances in remaining pre-season tilts — the starter role is not set in stone.
- The Red Wings’ youth and offense are legit, especially when teams let discipline slip.
More coverage: NHL news coverage, NHL betting hub and NHL expert picks.
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