Pens Points: Two Teams in Opposite Directions

It’s Penguins and Rangers in a Metropolitan Division clash.

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning...

Is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ winning streak a sign of real improvement or just a random run? It could be both. [PensBurgh]

Erik Karlsson, one of two Penguins players (alongside Sidney Crosby) chosen to play in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, headlines a Sweden roster that aims to compete with Finland and hockey juggernauts in Canada and the United States. [Trib Live]

How about a round of applause for Blaze Lizotte? One of Kyle Dubas’ summer signings, early returns show that Lizotte may be one of the Penguins’ better depth forwards. He can generate energy and offense as the team’s new third-line center amid Lars Eller’s departure. [Trib Live]

Penguins players of past and present gathered at the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday night for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration to celebrate two of the newest inductees, Matt Cullen and Kevin Stevens. [Penguins]

News and notes from around the NHL...

The Chicago Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson, the team announced on Thursday. [Sportsnet]

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is officially in NHL 25. [Yahoo! Sports/The Hockey News]

Despite being left off Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, Team Canada general manager Don Sweeney believes Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard is still in consideration for the 2026 Winter Olympics roster. [ESPN]