2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the fifty-first season for the National Hockey League ice hockey team that was established on June 5, 1967. It entered the season as two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. The Penguins entered this season as the longest active playoffs streak in the NHL after the Detroit Red Wings missed the playoffs for the first time in 25 years last season. To date, this is the most recent season in which the Penguins won a playoff series.

Background This was the first season since the 2002–03 season in which the team played without goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury; team leaders had shipped him off to play for the Vegas Golden Knights during the expansion draft.

The team failed to defend its title, after being eliminated in the Second Round of the playoffs by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. This also ended the team's chances of a possible three-peat, which would have been the first three-peat in the NHL since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980 to 1983. It would also have been the first in a North American professional sports league since the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was released on June 19, 2017.

|- style="background:#ffc;" | 1 || September 19 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Buffalo || Pegula Ice Arena || — || 0–0–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || September 20 || Detroit || 5–6 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 17,784 || 1–0–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || September 22 || Pittsburgh || 4–3 || Columbus || Nationwide Arena || 12,115 || 2–0–1 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 4 || September 24 || St. Louis || 4–1 || Pittsburgh || UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex || 1,500 || 2–1–1 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 5 || September 25 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || Detroit || Little Caesars Arena || 16,770 || 2–2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || September 27 || Buffalo || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 17,693 || 3–2–1 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 7 || September 30 || Columbus || 3–0 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,338 || 3–3–1

|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = OT/SO Loss

Regular season The regular season schedule was published on June 22, 2017.

|- style="background:#ffc;" | 1 || October 4 || St. Louis || 5–4 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,652 || 0–0–1 || 1 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 2 || October 5 || Pittsburgh || 1–10 || Chicago || United Center || 21,705 || 0–1–1 || 1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || October 7 || Nashville || 0–4 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,645 || 1–1–1 || 3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || October 11 || Pittsburgh || 3–2 || Washington || Capital One Arena || 18,506 || 2–1–1 || 5 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 5 || October 12 || Pittsburgh || 4–5 || Tampa Bay || Amalie Arena || 19,092 || 2–2–1 || 5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || October 14 || Florida || 3–4 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,582 || 3–2–1 || 7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || October 17 || Pittsburgh || 5–4 || NY Rangers || Madison Square Garden || 18,006 || 4–2–1 || 9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || October 20 || Pittsburgh || 4–3 || Florida || BB&T Center || 15,756 || 5–2–1 || 11 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 9 || October 21 || Pittsburgh || 1–7 || Tampa Bay || Amalie Arena || 19,092 || 5–3–1 || 11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || October 24 || Edmonton || 1–2 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,625 || 6–3–1 || 13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || October 26 || Winnipeg || 1–2 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,445 || 7–3–1 || 15 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 12 || October 28 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || Minnesota || Xcel Energy Center || 19,064 || 7–4–1 || 15 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 13 || October 29 || Pittsburgh || 1–7 || Winnipeg || Bell MTS Place || 15,321 || 7–5–1 || 15

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || November 1 || Pittsburgh || 3–2 || Edmonton || Rogers Place || 18,347 || 8–5–1 || 17 |- style="background:#ffc;" | 15 || November 2 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || Calgary || Scotiabank Saddledome || 18,837 || 8–5–2 || 18 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 16 || November 4 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || Vancouver || Rogers Arena || 18,865 || 8–6–2 || 18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || November 7 || Arizona || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,498 || 9–6–2 || 20 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 18 || November 10 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || Washington || Capital One Arena || 18,506 || 9–7–2 || 20 |- style="background:#ffc;" | 19 || November 11 || Pittsburgh || 4–5 || Nashville || Bridgestone Arena || 17,397 || 9–7–3 || 21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 || November 14 || Buffalo || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,438 || 10–7–3 || 23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || November 16 || Pittsburgh || 3–1 || Ottawa || Canadian Tire Centre || 17,144 || 11–7–3 || 25 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 22 || November 18 || Chicago || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,638 || 11–8–3 || 25 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 23 || November 22 || Vancouver || 5–2 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,606 || 11–9–3 || 25 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 24 || November 24 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Boston || TD Garden || 17,565 || 11–10–3 || 25 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 || November 25 || Tampa Bay || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,659 || 12–10–3 || 27 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || November 27 || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,505 || 13–10–3 || 29

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 || December 1 || Pittsburgh || 4–0 || Buffalo || KeyBank Center || 19,070 || 14–10–3 || 31 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || December 2 || Buffalo || 1–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,582 || 15–10–3 || 33 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 29 || December 5 || NY Rangers || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,414 || 15–11–3 || 33 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 30 || December 7 || NY Islanders || 3–4 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,433 || 16–11–3 || 35 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 31 || December 9 || Toronto || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,658 || 16–12–3 || 35 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 32 || December 11 || Colorado || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,411 || 16–13–3 || 35 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 33 || December 14 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || Vegas || T-Mobile Arena || 18,029 || 16–14–3 || 35 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || December 16 || Pittsburgh || 4–2 || Arizona || Gila River Arena || 13,051 || 17–14–3 || 37 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 35 || December 18 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || Colorado || Pepsi Center || 15,824 || 17–15–3 || 37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 || December 21 || Columbus || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,625 || 18–15–3 || 39 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 37 || December 23 || Anaheim || 4–0 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,622 || 18–16–3 || 39 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 || December 27 || Columbus || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,652 || 19–16–3 || 41 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 39 || December 29 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || Carolina || PNC Arena || 17,975 || 19–17–3 || 41 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 40 || December 31 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || Detroit || Little Caesars Arena || 19,515 || 19–18–3 || 41

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || January 2 || Pittsburgh || 5–1 || Philadelphia || Wells Fargo Center || 19,558 || 20–18–3 || 43 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 42 || January 4 || Carolina || 4–0 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,595 || 20–19–3 || 43 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 || January 5 || Pittsburgh || 4–0 || NY Islanders || Barclays Center || 13,641 || 21–19–3 || 45 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || January 7 || Boston || 5–6 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,553 || 22–19–3 || 47 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 || January 13 || Detroit || 1–4 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,637 || 23–19–3 || 49 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 || January 14 || NY Rangers || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,647 || 24–19–3 || 51 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 47 || January 17 || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || Anaheim || Honda Center || 17,291 || 24–20–3 || 51 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || January 18 || Pittsburgh || 3–1 || Los Angeles || Staples Center || 18,230 || 25–20–3 || 53 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 49 || January 20 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || San Jose || SAP Center || 17,562 || 25–21–3 || 53 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || January 23 || Carolina || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,421 || 26–21–3 || 55 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || January 25 || Minnesota || 3–6 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,453 || 27–21–3 || 57 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || January 30 || San Jose || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,469 || 28–21–3 || 59

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || February 2 || Washington || 4–7 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,652 || 29–21–3 || 61 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 54 || February 3 || Pittsburgh || 1–3 || New Jersey || Prudential Center || 16,514 || 29–22–3 || 61 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 55 || February 6 || Vegas || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,644 || 30–22–3 || 63 |- style="background:#ffc;" | 56 || February 9 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Dallas || American Airlines Center || 18,532 || 30–22–4 || 64 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 || February 11 || Pittsburgh || 4–1 || St. Louis || Scottrade Center || 18,975 || 31–22–4 || 66 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || February 13 || Ottawa || 3–6 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,448 || 32–22–4 || 68 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || February 15 || Los Angeles || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,604 || 33–22–4 || 70 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || February 17 || Toronto || 3–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,647 || 34–22–4 || 72 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || February 18 || Pittsburgh || 5–2 || Columbus || Nationwide Arena || 19,100 || 35–22–4 || 74 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || February 23 || Pittsburgh || 6–1 || Carolina || PNC Arena || 18,180 || 36–22–4 || 76 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 63 || February 24 || Pittsburgh || 5–6 || Florida || BB&T Center || 17,581 || 36–23–4 || 76 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 64 || February 27 || New Jersey || 3–2 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,581 || 36–24–4 || 76

|- style="background:#fcf;" | 65 || March 1 || Pittsburgh || 4–8 || Boston || TD Garden || 17,565 || 36–25–4 || 76 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 || March 3 || NY Islanders || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,661 || 37–25–4 || 78 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 || March 5 || Calgary || 3–4 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,630 || 38–25–4 || 80 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 68 || March 7 || Pittsburgh || 5–2 || Philadelphia || Wells Fargo Center || 19,624 || 39–25–4 || 82 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 69 || March 10 || Pittsburgh || 2–5 || Toronto || Air Canada Centre || 19,504 || 39–26–4 || 82 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || March 11 || Dallas || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,637 || 40–26–4 || 84 |- style="background:#ffc;" | 71 || March 14 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || NY Rangers || Madison Square Garden || 17,379 || 40–26–5 || 85 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 72 || March 15 || Pittsburgh || 5–3 || Montreal || Bell Centre || 21,302 || 41–26–5 || 87 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 73 || March 20 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || NY Islanders || Barclays Center || 10,442 || 41–27–5 || 87 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || March 21 || Montreal || 3–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,574 || 42–27–5 || 89 |- style="background:#ffc;" | 75 || March 23 || New Jersey || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,658 || 42–27–6 || 90 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 76 || March 25 || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || PPG Paints Arena || 18,655 || 43–27–6 || 92 |- style="background:#fcf;" | 77 || March 27 || Pittsburgh || 2–5 || Detroit || Little Caesars Arena || 19,515 || 43–28–6 || 92