Penguins Face Off Against Islanders: Game Preview 10.09.25
Dan Muse celebrated a significant milestone as he secured his first win as head coach in the NHL. This notable achievement occurred on September 26, 2025, during a game against his former team in New York.
Dan Muse’s Coaching Journey
Muse, appointed as the 23rd head coach of the Penguins on June 4, brings 20 years of coaching experience. His NHL tenure includes five seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers (2023-2025) and the Nashville Predators (2017-2020). During this period, he contributed to three divisional titles and two President’s Trophies, earned by Nashville in 2017-18 and New York in 2023-24.
Achievements and Championships
- Won NCAA Championship with Yale in 2013.
- Championship win in USHL with Chicago in 2017.
- International honors with Team USA: IIHF U18 in 2023 and U20 in 2013.
Sidney Crosby’s Historic Impact
The 2025-26 season marks the 21st year Captain Sidney Crosby has played for the Penguins, the most in franchise history. Alongside him are teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who each have logged significant time with the team.
Crosby stands out as only the fourth player in NHL history to spend 21 seasons or more with one franchise, joining legends such as Alex Delvecchio, Stan Mikita, and Steve Yzerman. As another notable statistic, he ranks fifth among active players in regular-season games played, with a total of 1,353.
Crosby’s Career Statistics
- Total Points: 1,687 (9th in NHL history)
- Total Assists: 1,062 (10th all-time)
- Total Goals: 625 (2nd among active players)
With one assist, Crosby will tie Steve Yzerman for the ninth-most assists in NHL history. This season also marks his 19th year as the Penguins’ captain, making him the longest-tenured captain in league history.
Impressive Debuts
Rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs showcased his skills during the game in New York, stopping all 25 shots and earning a shutout in his debut. Silovs joins an exclusive group as the second Penguins goaltender to achieve a shutout in their debut, following Maxime Lagace’s lead in 2021.
Historic Debut Records
At 24 years and 199 days, Silovs became:
- The ninth-youngest goaltender with a shutout in a franchise debut since 1985-86.
- The third-youngest to secure a season-opening road shutout in NHL history.
Young Talents Step Up
Two young players made their NHL debuts alongside Silovs: forward Ben Kindel and defenseman Harrison Brunicke. Kindel, selected 11th overall in 2025, is the fifth-youngest player in Penguins history to debut. Brunicke, drafted 44th overall in 2024, is the sixth-youngest defenseman to make their entry into the NHL.
With both players debuting at ages 18 and 19 respectively, they are among the third pair of teenagers in franchise history to debut on the same night.
