The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a rocky start to the season, winning just one of their first three games. They will aim to improve as they finish a three-game road trip against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
In their most recent match, the Penguins fell 4-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kris Letang scored first, but Toronto quickly took control with three unanswered goals. Rickard Rakell closed the gap to one goal, but an empty-netter confirmed the defeat.
The Penguins have a history of slow starts in October, having ended last season with a 3-6-0 record for the month. In the previous two seasons, their October records were 4-4-1 and 3-3-2, respectively. Captain Sidney Crosby commented on the team’s performance, saying, “We didn’t like our first game, but I thought we had chances in the last two. Getting two out of three on the road would be solid. Starts are crucial; we’ve missed the playoffs by just a point or two in recent seasons, so a strong beginning is vital.”
Crosby is currently second on the team with three assists, just behind Evgeni Malkin, who has four assists. Malkin reached a milestone with two assists against Toronto, marking his 1,300th career point. He is two goals away from 500, with only Crosby (1,599) and Alex Ovechkin (1,551) having more points among active players. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan praised Malkin, stating, “He’s among the greatest players ever and one of the best of this generation. We’re fortunate to have both him and Crosby on our team; it’s a privilege for us to watch them.”
On the other hand, the Canadiens are feeling optimistic after securing two wins in their first three games, including a recent 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Their success has been bolstered by goaltender Samuel Montembeault and standout players like forward Cole Caufield and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson.
Caufield expressed contentment with their start, noting, “It feels good, but it’s only three games. We’ve faced tough opponents, and while it’s early, we still have a long way to go.” He leads the team with four goals, having scored at least 20 in each of the last three seasons.
Hutson shares the team lead in points with Caufield, having accumulated four assists—two in each of the last two games. He also recorded two assists in his first two NHL games last season. Defenseman Mike Matheson praised Hutson’s skills, saying, “His ability to find open space is impressive, especially so early in his career.”
