What Went Wrong for Penguins in NHL Playoffs? Power Play Struggles, Dan Vladar Send Pittsburgh Into Offseason originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2025-26 season ended much sooner than expected for the Penguins. The Flyers defeated the Pens in a Game 6 thriller on Wednesday night, punching their ticket to the next round and sending Pittsburgh into the offseason.
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While Dan Muse’s squad certainly exceeded expectations this season, the series loss to a bitter rival will sting. Even though Pittsburgh was able to win two consecutive games after going down 3-0 in the series, it was simply a case of too little, too late.
“We’re a shot away from going back to Pittsburgh for Game 7,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said after Game 6. “It just comes down to bounces sometimes. Putting yourself in that position is tough, but I think we all had a lot of belief that we could dig ourselves out of it. And I think our game showed that.
“It’s just unfortunate that we got behind early in the series.”
Why did the Penguins struggle against the Flyers after an incredible run through the regular season? Let’s break down the first-round matchup.
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What went wrong for Penguins in NHL Playoffs?
Penguins’ stagnant offense
In the regular season, the Penguins were third in the NHL with 3.54 goals per game. Pittsburgh’s offense hit a brick wall in the postseason, however, as that number plummeted to 1.83. The star power and impressive depth from the regular season vanished in the playoffs against Philadelphia’s defense.
Players like Anthony Mantha and Ben Kindel, who previously provided essential secondary scoring, had little impact on the outcome of the series. The Flyers were able to focus on neutralizing the Penguins’ top lines.
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By the time the series shifted to Philadelphia, the frustration was visible.
Dan Vladar’s excellence
During the regular season, Vladar posted a career-best 2.42 GAA. In the first round, he took his game to another level.
Vladar transformed into a giant in the Flyers’ crease, utilizing every inch of his 6-5 frame to eliminate second-chance opportunities. He had two shutouts in the series, including a 42-save masterpiece in Game 6. He was clearly Philadelphia’s most important player.
Penguins’ power play struggles
The Penguins had a top-10 power play percentage during the regular season (24.1). In the first round, that unit went completely dormant, finishing 3-for-19 (15.8).
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The issues began with a complete lack of urgency and shot generation. Philadelphia’s penalty killers consistently anticipated passes intended for Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin, turning Pittsburgh’s greatest strength into a source of momentum for the opposition.
The Penguins had three power play goals across Games 3 and 4, but there was not enough consistency to make the Flyers pay.
Can’t overcome 3-0 deficit
In a series this tight, the margin for error was non-existent. Had even a single bounce gone Pittsburgh’s way during a disastrous 0–3 start, the hockey world might be preparing for the drama of a Game 7.
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Instead, the Penguins are left wondering what might have been.