3 Takeaways From Penguins 4-2 Loss To Red Wings

The Pittsburgh Penguins ended 2024 just as they started, losing a hockey game, this time to the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 at Little Caesars Arena on New Year’s Eve.

In a year where Pittsburgh missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, they opened 2024 at home, dropping the year’s first contest to the Washington Capitals 4-2.

Despite their latest setback on Tuesday night, the Penguins didn’t lose any ground in the wildcard race with their 17-17-5 record, but opponents, like the Red Wings, are closing the gap, making games in early 2025 that much more important.

O’Connor Has Night to Remember

Every player in the NHL has experienced a scoring drought. For some, it’s only a couple of games, while for others, it seems like a lifetime. For Drew O’Connor, that number reached 32 games, last lighting the lamp on Oct. 18 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Not only did O’Connor notch his first goal in two months against the Red Wings, but he scored both of Pittsburgh’s goals for only the second two-goal game of his career. Someone has to go back to Oct. 23, 2021, when he potted two against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Despite the Penguins’ many goals this season, O’Connor is now only up to five. Hopefully, Tuesday night will clean the slate for the 26-year-old, and he will rediscover his scoring touch to help provide secondary scoring with the monkey off his back.

Statistics are so Misleading

According to the game statistics, the Penguins had seven shots in the first period and another seven in the second. Then, in the third, they almost matched their first two-period total with 11. Overall, they tied the Red Wings with 25.

Anyone watching the contest would have to wonder where these 25 shots came from since Pittsburgh seemed never to get any good scoring chances. Of course, they scored two goals and kept the game close in the third period, but this one didn’t seem like the others.

Evgeni Malkin had a rough night; Crosby got an assist but had no shots. Only a few players seemed to create some buzz, including O’Connor and Rickard Rakell, but the Penguins chased the game most of the night and didn’t seem to have the hustle that has helped them win 10 out of their last 15, despite how close the final statistics were.

A Rare Atlantic Division Loss

It’s no secret that the Penguins have struggled against the Metro Division, with their 3-7-1 record. Meanwhile, against the Atlantic Division, it’s a complete 360 with an 8-2-3 record. On Tuesday, they suffered only their second regulation loss to an Atlantic Division opponent, an unusual sight in 2024-25.

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However, there’s no time to dwell on it as the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, are in town on Friday. Then it’s two contests against Metro Division rivals before the Edmonton Oilers come to town.

Ultimately, Pittsburgh is headed into a tough schedule, with 13 games in 26 nights and two back-to-backs in mid-January. They play four against the Atlantic, three against the Metro, and seven against the Western Conference, including a lengthy road trip to end the month. Where will the Penguins be at the end of the month?