The Penguins finished the 2024-25 season with just 80 points in the standings, good for only seventh place in their division and 13th in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
Fast forward a year, and Pittsburgh was up to 98 points, a second place finish in their division that ranked seventh in the conference. Where did that turnaround happen? Let\u2019s check the team performance split by opponent over the two seasons.<\/p>\n
The highlighted segment of division opponents tells the tale at large. The Pens were just 9-13-4 against Metropolitan Division opponents in 2024-25. That turned completely on its head this past season by the tune of a 13-4-9 record in 2025-26. That\u2019s as many wins as total losses but avoiding regulation losses is the name of the game – getting to OT against these opponents serves to cheapen the impact of their win. Two of the regulation losses were to the Capitals at the tail end of the season after Pittsburgh had clinched a playoff berth and iced less-than-competitive lineups to make the record that much more impressive for the games that matters.<\/p>\n
To go from a full-season point pace of just 69 in 2024-25 when playing teams in the division to turn it into a pace of 110 in 2025-26 really sums up the Pens\u2019 turnaround from one year to the next. It\u2019s really about all that needs to be said, dominate the division and you are likely headed to the playoffs. Play horribly and it\u2019s the draft lottery.<\/p>\n
Improvements weren\u2019t limited to the division, Pittsburgh managed a 15-15-2 record against the Western Conference in 2024-25, that improved to a 15-9-8 record this past year. While they didn\u2019t add to the win total, avoiding regulation losses was once again a key to results, the pace difference from year-to-year was 82 to 97, showing just how critical picking up the so-called \u2018loser point\u2019 can be. They add up in the standings column just the same.<\/p>\n