2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins
East Division champions
Division1st East
2020–21 record37–16–3
Home record22–4–2
Road record15–12–1
Goals for196
Goals against156
Team information
General managerJim Rutherford (Jan. 13 – Jan. 27)
[1] (interim) (Jan. 27 – Feb. 9)
Ron Hextall (Feb. 9 – May 26)
CoachMike Sullivan
CaptainSidney Crosby
Alternate captainsKris Letang
Evgeni Malkin
ArenaPPG Paints Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsSidney Crosby (24)
AssistsSidney Crosby
Kris Letang (38)
PointsSidney Crosby (62)
Penalty minutesKris Letang (32)
Plus/minusKris Letang (+19)
WinsTristan Jarry (25)
Goals against averageCasey DeSmith (2.54)

The 2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the 54th season for the National Hockey League team that was established on June 5, 1967.[2] On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Penguins would play this season in the East Division and would only play against the other teams in their new division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On April 29, 2021, the Penguins clinched a playoff berth with a 5–4 overtime win over the Washington Capitals, extending their playoff streak to 15 seasons – the longest active streak among the four North American major leagues (including MLB, the NFL, and the NBA).[3] On May 8, the team clinched the East Division title after defeating the Buffalo Sabres 1-0, for their first division championship since the 2013–14 season.[4] The Penguins were then defeated in the First Round in six games by the New York Islanders.[5]

Standings[]

Divisional standings[]

East Division
Pos Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Pittsburgh Penguins 56 37 16 3 29 196 156 +40 77
2 x – Washington Capitals 56 36 15 5 29 191 163 +28 77
3 x – Boston Bruins 56 33 16 7 25 168 136 +32 73
4 x – New York Islanders 56 32 17 7 24 156 128 +28 71
5 e – New York Rangers 56 27 23 6 24 177 157 +20 60
6 e – Philadelphia Flyers 56 25 23 8 17 163 201 −38 58
7 e – New Jersey Devils 56 19 30 7 15 145 194 −49 45
8 e – Buffalo Sabres 56 15 34 7 11 138 199 −61 37
Source: National Hockey League[6]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results[]

Regular season[]

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[7]

2020–21 game log
January: 5–3–1 (Home: 4–0–0 ; Road: 1–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
1 January 13 Pittsburgh 3–6 Philadelphia Jarry 0 0–1–0 0
2 January 15 Pittsburgh 2–5 Philadelphia Jarry 0 0–2–0 0
3 January 17 Washington 3–4 SO Pittsburgh DeSmith 0 1–2–0 2
4 January 19 Washington 4–5 OT Pittsburgh DeSmith 0 2–2–0 4
5 January 22 NY Rangers 3–4 SO Pittsburgh Jarry 0 3–2–0 6
6 January 24 NY Rangers 2–3 Pittsburgh Jarry 0 4–2–0 8
7 January 26 Pittsburgh 2–3 OT Boston Jarry 0 4–2–1 9
8 January 28 Pittsburgh 1–4 Boston Jarry 0 4–3–1 9
9 January 30 Pittsburgh 5–4 OT NY Rangers DeSmith 0 5–3–1 11
February: 6–5–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 3–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
10 February 1 Pittsburgh 1–3 NY Rangers DeSmith 0 5–4–1 11
— February 2 New Jersey – Pittsburgh Postponed due to COVID-19.[8] Rescheduled for March 21.
— February 4 New Jersey – Pittsburgh Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 20.
11 February 6 Pittsburgh 3–4 NY Islanders Jarry 0 5–5–1 11
12 February 11 Pittsburgh 4–3 SO NY Islanders DeSmith 0 6–5–1 13
13 February 14 Washington 3–6 Pittsburgh Jarry 0 7–5–1 15
14 February 16 Washington 3–1 Pittsburgh Jarry 0 7–6–1 15
15 February 18 NY Islanders 1–4 Pittsburgh Jarry 0 8–6–1 17
16 February 20 NY Islanders 2–3 Pittsburgh Jarry 0 9–6–1 19
17 February 23 Pittsburgh 3–2 OT Washington Jarry 0 10–6–1 21
18 February 25 Pittsburgh 2–5 Washington Jarry 0 10–7–1 21
19 February 27 Pittsburgh 4–3 OT NY Islanders Jarry 0 11–7–1 23
20 February 28 Pittsburgh 0–2 NY Islanders DeSmith 0 11–8–1 23
March: 12–3–1 (Home: 9–2–1 ; Road: 3–1–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
21 March 2 Philadelphia 2–5 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 12–8–1 25
22 March 4 Philadelphia 4–3 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 12–9–1 25
23 March 6 Philadelphia 3–4 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 13–9–1 27
24 March 7 NY Rangers 1–5 Pittsburgh DeSmith 2,800 14–9–1 29
25 March 9 NY Rangers 2–4 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 15–9–1 31
26 March 11 Pittsburgh 5–2 Buffalo Jarry 0 16–9–1 33
27 March 13 Pittsburgh 3–0 Buffalo DeSmith 0 17–9–1 35
28 March 15 Boston 1–4 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 18–9–1 37
29 March 16 Boston 2–1 Pittsburgh DeSmith 2,800 18–10–1 37
30 March 18 Pittsburgh 2–3 New Jersey Jarry 1,800 18–11–1 37
31 March 20 Pittsburgh 3–1 New Jersey DeSmith 1,800 19–11–1 39
32 March 21 New Jersey 2–1 OT Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 19–11–2 40
33 March 24 Buffalo 2–5 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 20–11–2 42
34 March 25 Buffalo 0–4 Pittsburgh DeSmith 2,800 21–11–2 44
35 March 27 NY Islanders 3–6 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 22–11–2 46
36 March 29 NY Islanders 1–2 Pittsburgh Jarry 2,800 23–11–2 48
April: 10–4–1 (Home: 5–1–1 ; Road: 5–3–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
37 April 1 Pittsburgh 4–1 Boston DeSmith 2,191 24–11–2 50
38 April 3 Pittsburgh 5–7 Boston DeSmith 2,191 24–12–2 50
39 April 6 Pittsburgh 4–8 NY Rangers DeSmith 1,693 24–13–2 50
40 April 8 Pittsburgh 5–2 NY Rangers Jarry 1,800 25–13–2 52
41 April 9 Pittsburgh 6–4 New Jersey DeSmith 3,600 26–13–2 54
42 April 11 Pittsburgh 5–2 New Jersey Jarry 3,600 27–13–2 56
43 April 15 Philadelphia 2–1 SO Pittsburgh Jarry 4,672 27–13–3 57
44 April 17 Pittsburgh 3–2 Buffalo Jarry —[a] 28–13–3 59
45 April 18 Pittsburgh 2–4 Buffalo DeSmith 0 28–14–3 59
46 April 20 New Jersey 6–7 Pittsburgh Jarry 4,672 29–14–3 61
47 April 22 New Jersey 1–5 Pittsburgh Jarry 4,672 30–14–3 63
48 April 24 New Jersey 2–4 Pittsburgh DeSmith 4,672 31–14–3 65
49 April 25 Boston 0–1 Pittsburgh Jarry 4,672 32–14–3 67
50 April 27 Boston 3–1 Pittsburgh Jarry 4,672 32–15–3 67
51 April 29 Pittsburgh 5–4 OT Washington Jarry 2,133 33–15–3 69
May: 4–1–0 (Home: 2–0–0 ; Road: 2–1–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
52 May 1 Pittsburgh 3–0 Washington Jarry 2,133 34–15–3 71
53 May 3 Pittsburgh 2–7 Philadelphia DeSmith 2,542 34–16–3 71
54 May 4 Pittsburgh 7–3 Philadelphia Jarry 2,961 35–16–3 73
55 May 6 Buffalo 4–8 Pittsburgh Jarry 4,672 36–16–3 75
56 May 8 Buffalo 0–1 Pittsburgh Lagace 4,672 37–16–3 77
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = OT/SO Loss        = Postponement

Playoffs[]

Main article: 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
East Division First Round vs. (E4) New York Islanders: New York won 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap
1 May 16 NY Islanders 4–3 Pittsburgh OT Jarry 4,672 0–1 Recap
2 May 18 NY Islanders 1–2 Pittsburgh Jarry 9,344 1–1 Recap
3 May 20 Pittsburgh 5–4 NY Islanders Jarry 6,800 2–1 Recap
4 May 22 Pittsburgh 1–4 NY Islanders Jarry 6,800 2–2 Recap
5 May 24 NY Islanders 3–2 Pittsburgh 2OT Jarry 9,344 2–3 Recap
6 May 26 Pittsburgh 3–5 NY Islanders Jarry 9,000 2–4 Recap
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics[]

Skaters[]

Goaltenders[]

Regular season[11]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tristan Jarry 39 38 2,185:18 25 9 3 100 2.75 1,100 .909 2 0 4 8
Casey DeSmith 20 17 1,132:19 11 7 0 48 2.54 543 .912 2 0 1 0
Maxime Lagace 1 1 60:00 1 0 0 0 0.00 29 1.000 1 0 0 0
Playoffs[12]
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tristan Jarry 6 6 396:07 2 4 21 3.18 187 .888 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions[]

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 2020–21 season.

Trades[]

Date Details
October 7, 2020 (2020-10-07)[13] To Ottawa Senators
Matt Murray 		To Pittsburgh Penguins

2nd-round pick in 2020


Draft picks[]

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

Below are the Pittsburgh Penguins' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was instead held on October 6–7, 2020, virtually via video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
2 52 Joel Blomqvist G Finland Finland Oulun Kärpät U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)
3 77 Calle Clang G Sweden Sweden Kristianstads IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
4 108 C United States United States Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
6 170 C United States United States U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Notes[]

  1. ^ Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.

References[]

  1. ^ "Jim Rutherford Resigns as GM; Patrik Allvin Named Interim GM". NHL.com. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Stainkamp, Michael (August 25, 2010). "A brief history: Pittsburgh Penguins". NHL.com. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  3. ^ "Penguins, Capitals each clinch playoff berth in OT game". NHL.com. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Penguins Clinch East Division Title". NHL.com. May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Islanders defeat Penguins in Game 6, win first-round series". NHL.com. May 27, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "NHL Hockey Standings". www.nhl.com. National Hockey League.
  7. ^ "2020-21 NHL schedule announced". NHL.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Devils games postponed through at least Saturday because of COVID-19". NHL.com. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "2020–21 Regular season – Pittsburgh Penguins Stats – Skaters". NHL.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "2020–21 Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins Stats – Skaters". NHL.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "2020–21 Regular season – Pittsburgh Penguins Stats – Goalies". NHL.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  12. ^ "2020–21 Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins Stats – Goalies". NHL.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "Penguins Acquire Gruden and a 2020 2nd-Round Draft Pick for Matt Murray". NHL.com. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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