After his first win as a Pittsburgh Steeler in Week 1 of this NFL season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers spun this quote about the nature of his team\u2019s 34-32 victory over the New York Jets.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like a coach\u2019s dream journal,\u201d Rodgers said. \u201cTo win but also have some correctable moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
All too true. There are few things in the world that coaches love to do more than obsess over fixable details that weren\u2019t so problematic that they got in the way of a victory.<\/p>\n
For Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse, though, of late, he\u2019s had a hard time searching for negative nuance with his team.<\/p>\n
His \u201cdream journal\u201d has been pretty empty.<\/p>\n
A 4-1 victory over New Jersey on Thursday night was Pittsburgh\u2019s sixth in a row. The Pens have outscored opponents 29-13 along the way.<\/p>\n
Muse is even having a hard time pinpointing one significant deficiency that the Penguins have shelved to flip the script on the eight-game losing streak they endured prior to Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not one thing right now that I\u2019m going to say is a reason that we came out of this break. More the wins started coming,\u201d Muse said after beating the Devils at PPG Paints Arena. \u201cPrior to the break, we were playing good hockey. We just weren\u2019t consistent with it. And it wasn\u2019t for a full 60 minutes. The group as a whole came out of that break, and right away, we felt refreshed just having a little bit of time. And now you start to build some momentum, and you build from one game to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n
But as Muse continued speaking, he did talk himself into one significant improvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ebbs and flows of the game are being controlled better,\u201d Muse continued. \u201cIf I was to say one thing, in terms of (the) difference between these last six games and maybe the six to 10 games prior, it\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The victory over New Jersey provided some evidence to Muse\u2019s point. Part of Pittsburgh\u2019s problem during that eight-game funk was that they were constantly blowing leads \u2014 often in the third period.<\/p>\n
Against Dallas, a 2-1 lead slipped away in the final frame. Back-to-back multi-goal leads at home were blown against San Jose and Utah. A 3-2 lead at home versus Montreal went up in smoke in the final 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
Yet, against the Devils, New Jersey got a goal at 2:55 in the third, down 3-0. But the Penguins shut the door for the next 10 minutes before Blake Lizotte added some insurance by making it 4-1.<\/p>\n
NOEL ACCIARI WITH A PERFECT PASS TO BLAKE LIZOTTE pic.twitter.com\/gigxFVG0oj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) January 9, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n In their previous game against Columbus, the Pens scored first, only to see the Blue Jackets race in front 4-1. Yet Muse\u2019s bunch rebounded and won 5-4 in overtime.<\/p>\n “THE PENGUINS WIN! THE PENGUINS WIN!”<\/p>\n WHO BUT SIDNEY CROSBY! ???? pic.twitter.com\/CujPru5uPP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) January 4, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Similarly, on New Year\u2019s Day, the Pens opened a two-goal lead against Detroit. The Red Wings tied it. They flip-flopped goals to make it 3-3 before Kris Letang got the overtime game-winner.<\/p>\n OUR GAME-WINNING GOAL HERO IN HIS 1,200TH @NHL<\/a> GAME! pic.twitter.com\/tYMgS9GmxQ<\/a><\/p>\n