RETURN TO PLAYOFF HOCKEY. THE RACE TO ADD ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER BACK HERE AT PPG PAINTS ARENA IS ON AS THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE RETURNING TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS, AND FANS SAY THEY CAN’T WAIT. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO JUST BEAT THROUGH EVERYBODY WHO CARES ABOUT MACKINNON OR MCDAVID. THEY’RE LOSERS. YOU GOT IT. LET’S GO. PENS A SIMPLE MESSAGE FROM PENS FANS AFTER THE PENGUINS CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT, ENDING A FOUR YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT, AND FANS ALREADY BELIEVE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. WOO! HOW ARE YOU FEELING? IT IS AMAZING, MAN. YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TELLING PEOPLE THAT THE PENGUINS HAVE ALWAYS ACTUALLY BEEN THE BEST TEAM IN THE NHL. THEY’VE JUST BEEN TAKING A SHORT BREAK. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY’RE READY TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP AGAINST EVERYONE. BETTER BE READY FOR THAT. THIS WILL BE ALSO THE 17TH TIME SIDNEY CROSBY, EVGENI MALKIN AND KRIS LETANG HAVE PLAYED IN THE POSTSEASON TOGETHER. THEY GOT A BALANCE OF YOUNG ENERGY AND THE EXPERIENCE. OBVIOUSLY WITH THOSE THREE. SO I THINK IT YEAH, THEY COULD GO FAR. AS FOR NEARBY STORES, OFFICIALS SAY IT’S GOING TO BE A BUSY MONTH NOW WITH THE PENS AND THE PLAYOFFS. THE RISE OF CONNOR GRIFFIN FOR THE BUCKOS AND THE NFL DRAFT COMING TO TOWN. THEIR BIGGEST TASK IS TRYING TO KEEP STUFF ON THE SHELVES. WELL, DEFINITELY AN EXCITING TIME TO HAVE ALL ALL THE SPORTS REPRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME. CERTAINLY IN A POSITIVE WAY. IT’S A WITH THE DRAFT HERE, IT’S A SITUATION LIKE WE MAY NOT SEE FOR ANOTHER 25 OR 30 YEARS. SO ALL THAT COMING TOGETHER, LET’S SAY THE CONFLUENCE OF THAT IS GOING TO BE GREAT HERE FOR THE STORES. LIKE I SAID, I THINK THE REST OF THE LEAGUE HAS NO IDEA WHAT’S ABOUT TO HIT THEM. TICKETS FOR THE FIRST TWO HOME GAMES ARE ALREADY ON SALE, BUT FOR NOW, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY RIGHT HERE AT BBC ARENA. CARLOS FLORES, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. GOOD TO SEE ALL THAT EXCITEMENT. YOU CAN SEE TOMORROW’S PENGUINS AND CAPITALS GAME RIGHT HERE ON PENS ON FOUR. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR FULL COVERAGE LEA
‘They could go far’: Pens fans eye deep playoff run after team breaks 4-year playoff drought
Updated: 12:43 PM EDT Apr 10, 2026
The Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched a playoff spot, ending a four-year drought, and fans have a simple message to the Penguins players as they gear up for playoff hockey.”I know you guys are going to just beat through everybody who cares about McKinnon or McDavid. They’re losers. You got it. Let’s go, Pens,” said Michael Czapik, a Penguins fan. Despite not being in the postseason the last few years, fans are optimistic that a championship is on the horizon. “It is amazing, man. You know, I have always been telling people that the Penguins have always actually been the best team in the NHL. They’ve just been taking a short break. But you know what? They’re ready to win the Stanley Cup again, so everyone better be ready for that,” Czapik said. This also marks the 17th time Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang will play in the postseason together, a combination of experience that has fans hopeful. “They got a balance of young energy and the experience, obviously, with those three. So, I think it, yeah, they could go far,” said John Wray, who lives in Lawrenceville. Local stores are even preparing for a busy month, with the Penguins’ playoff games, the rise of Konnor Griffin for the Pirates and the NFL draft coming to town. “Well, definitely an exciting time to have all, all the sports represented at the same time. Certainly, in a positive way, with the draft here. It’s a situation like we may not see for another 25 or 30 years. So all that coming together, let’s say the confluence of that’s going to be great here for the stores,” said Al Mikita, manager of Yinzers in the Burgh. “Like I said, I think the rest of the league has no idea what’s about to hit them,” Czapik said. Tickets for the first two home games are already on sale.
PITTSBURGH —
The Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched a playoff spot, ending a four-year drought, and fans have a simple message to the Penguins players as they gear up for playoff hockey.
“I know you guys are going to just beat through everybody who cares about McKinnon or McDavid. They’re losers. You got it. Let’s go, Pens,” said Michael Czapik, a Penguins fan.
Despite not being in the postseason the last few years, fans are optimistic that a championship is on the horizon.
“It is amazing, man. You know, I have always been telling people that the Penguins have always actually been the best team in the NHL. They’ve just been taking a short break. But you know what? They’re ready to win the Stanley Cup again, so everyone better be ready for that,” Czapik said.
This also marks the 17th time Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang will play in the postseason together, a combination of experience that has fans hopeful.
“They got a balance of young energy and the experience, obviously, with those three. So, I think it, yeah, they could go far,” said John Wray, who lives in Lawrenceville.
Local stores are even preparing for a busy month, with the Penguins’ playoff games, the rise of Konnor Griffin for the Pirates and the NFL draft coming to town.
“Well, definitely an exciting time to have all, all the sports represented at the same time. Certainly, in a positive way, with the draft here. It’s a situation like we may not see for another 25 or 30 years. So all that coming together, let’s say the confluence of that’s going to be great here for the stores,” said Al Mikita, manager of Yinzers in the Burgh.
“Like I said, I think the rest of the league has no idea what’s about to hit them,” Czapik said.