Penguins Surge Past Blackhawks With Balanced Six-Goal Attack

The Pittsburgh Penguins have found their groove, and Thursday night’s 6-2 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena was yet another exclamation mark on a season that’s rapidly shifting from hopeful to downright thrilling. With their fifth consecutive win, the Penguins not only showcased depth and resilience, but also signaled to the rest of the NHL that they’re far more than a one-line wonder. This victory, secured on January 29, 2026, was as much about new faces stepping up as it was about established stars doing their job.

Head coach Dan Muse summed up the night’s relentless effort: “It’s about being relentless on the attack and then you press repeat and do it again. When we are going, you are getting contributions, as we did tonight, from everyone throughout the lineup.” The numbers back him up. The Penguins peppered Chicago’s net with 44 shots while only allowing 19, dominating the shot clock and the scoreboard alike. The goals came from all corners, with five different players lighting the lamp and ten Penguins registering at least a point.

It wasn’t just the familiar faces making noise. Connor Dewar, who’s quietly become one of the team’s most reliable scorers, opened and closed the night’s tally, bringing his season total to 13 goals. Dewar’s knack for clutch performances is becoming a theme—Pittsburgh has won every game in which he’s scored, save for a single shootout loss. Dewar’s first goal tied the game at 1-1 after Chicago’s Connor Murphy opened the scoring, and his second, a gritty net-front finish in the third, put the cherry on top of the Penguins’ offensive outburst.

Ben Kindel, the 18-year-old rookie, continued his impressive run with another goal. Kindel now has three goals in his last two games, and his confidence is growing with every shift. His second-period strike, a wrister that fooled Chicago goalie Arvid Soderblom, gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead and set the tone for a dominant middle frame. Kindel’s chemistry with linemate Anthony Mantha has been especially noticeable, with the duo combining for a highlight-reel breakaway goal just 31 seconds after Egor Chinakhov’s tally.

Speaking of Chinakhov, the December 29 acquisition from Columbus has wasted no time making an impact. Slotted onto the second line alongside Evgeni Malkin, Chinakhov scored his sixth goal in just 14 games with the Penguins, finishing off a dazzling spinning backhand feed from Malkin. He also notched a primary assist, proving he’s more than just a finisher. With Bryan Rust serving a three-game suspension for a check to the head, Chinakhov’s promotion to the top power play unit added another left-handed weapon to Pittsburgh’s arsenal.

Anthony Mantha, signed for a modest $2.5 million this season, continues to deliver beyond expectations. The 31-year-old notched his 17th goal of the campaign on a slick breakaway move—one that drew comparisons to Mario Lemieux from more than a few fans in the arena. Mantha finished the second period with three points, all in just six shifts. “That’s a massive part of why we are winning,” Mantha said of the team’s balanced scoring. “I think everyone in the offensive zone is creating chances and getting the puck behind their goalie.”

Ryan Shea, a former Blackhawks draft pick, has quietly become one of the league’s breakout defensemen. He extended his point streak to four games by hammering home a point shot late in the second period, pushing his season total to 20 points—an incredible 15 more than his previous NHL high. Shea also tallied two assists, sharing the team lead in helpers on the night with Mantha and Noel Acciari.

On the back end, it was a solid night for goaltender Arturs Silovs. He stopped 17 of 19 shots, including a key save on a Connor Bedard rush late in the third. Silovs’ calm demeanor gave the Penguins confidence, especially during a first period that saw Pittsburgh take four penalties. “Guys are working hard, trying to block shots,” Silovs said postgame. “Everyone is fighting in front of the net. I have to give huge credit to the guys.”

Stuart Skinner, the backup goalie acquired from Edmonton, didn’t see action on this night but has quietly posted a 7-4 record with a 2.31 goals against average and a .906 save percentage since joining the Penguins. After a rocky start, Skinner has allowed just 13 goals in his last nine appearances, giving Pittsburgh a reliable tandem in the crease.

This game also marked the Pittsburgh debut of defenseman Ilya Solovyov, who played a steady 16:51 and earned a primary assist on Shea’s goal. Solovyov’s physical presence was felt, as he pinned Chicago’s Connor Bedard to the wall in the first period and generally kept things simple in his own end. “By design it was a quiet introduction to ease him in, with the blowout allowing him to get more ice time in each period,” noted one observer.

With Bryan Rust suspended, the Penguins recalled Rutger McGroarty from the AHL. McGroarty made his presence felt with five shots, three hits, and a blocked shot in just over ten minutes of ice time. The absence of Rust also saw Justin Brazeau move up to the top line, though he struggled to find chemistry with Sidney Crosby and saw limited even-strength minutes.

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, struggled to keep up after the first period. Connor Murphy and Connor Bedard provided the lone bright spots, with Bedard scoring his 21st of the season on a late wrist shot. Soderblom, facing a barrage of Pittsburgh chances, finished with 38 saves but had little help as the Penguins poured on 23 shots and four goals in the second period alone.

With the win, Pittsburgh remains six points out of first place in their division but holds a game in hand over the leaders. The Islanders stay tied with the Penguins, while the Devils and Flyers are further back in the standings. Next up for the Penguins is a Saturday afternoon showdown with the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena, followed by a Monday night tilt against Ottawa before the Olympic break begins.

As the Olympic break approaches, Coach Muse isn’t letting his team get complacent: “A win like tonight, it feels good right now, but tomorrow we have to get right back to work. We don’t have a choice, we don’t have the luxury of sitting back and feeling too good. I’ve seen them put in the work and I believe in these guys.”

The message is clear: these Penguins are hungry, balanced, and ready for more. With new faces making waves and veterans leading by example, Pittsburgh’s playoff push is heating up at just the right time. The rest of the league should take notice—this is a team that’s finding ways to win, night after night.