2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the 54th season for the National Hockey League team that was established on June 5, 1967. On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Penguins would play this season in the East Division and would only play against the other teams in their new division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs.
| 2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins | |
|---|---|
East Division champions | |
| Division | 1st East |
| 2020–21 record | 37–16–3 |
| Home record | 22–4–2 |
| Road record | 15–12–1 |
| Goals for | 196 |
| Goals against | 156 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Jim Rutherford (Jan. 13 – Jan. 27) Patrik Allvin (interim, Jan. 27 – Feb. 9) Ron Hextall (Feb. 9 – May 26) |
| Coach | Mike Sullivan |
| Captain | Sidney Crosby |
| Alternate captains | Kris Letang Evgeni Malkin |
| Arena | PPG Paints Arena |
| Minor league affiliate(s) | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Sidney Crosby (24) |
| Assists | Sidney Crosby Kris Letang (38) |
| Points | Sidney Crosby (62) |
| Penalty minutes | Kris Letang (32) |
| Plus/minus | Kris Letang (+19) |
| Wins | Tristan Jarry (25) |
| Goals against average | Casey DeSmith (2.54) |
On April 29, 2021, the Penguins clinched a playoff berth with a 5–4 overtime win over the Washington Capitals, extending their playoff streak to 15 seasons – the longest active streak among the four North American major leagues, after the San Antonio Spurs of National Basketball Association missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 years. (including MLB, the NFL, and the NBA). On May 8, the team clinched the East Division title after defeating the Buffalo Sabres 1-0, for their first division championship since the 2013–14 season. The Penguins were then defeated in the First Round in six games by the New York Islanders. On April 20, 2021, the Penguins barreled through the first two periods en route to a 6-0 lead at the end of the second period. The Devils outscored them 6-1 in the third period, but the Penguins still won, 7-6. The Penguins became the first team in NHL history to be outscored by 5 goals in the third period of a game but still be on the winning end.