Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 8hThis Edmonton-Vancouver game might produce 20 goals tonight… 030
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Flyers with 19 shots tonight. Only twice have they had fewer in a regular season home game v Pens: 17, 3/19/2016 in 4-1 Pens win 18, 1/13/2007 in 5-3 Pens win 0120
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026While Sid continues to play at an incredibly high level, as the years go by, he's going to need more offensive support. He got it last season, and he got it tonight. Only more decisive win by Pens in a GP in which Sid had 1 or fewer points was 10-2 on 11/4/23 @ SJ. Sid 1 assist. 1170
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026The only more decisive regular season road shutout in Pens' history than they achieved tonight was their 8-0 win @ San Jose on 12/5/91. 0110
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026The minute Kuzmenko, Rust and Kindel are healthy, they're going into the lineup. After a game like this, interesting to think about who's coming out... 1130
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Pens' goaltenders with shutouts on opening night (Silovs only G to do this on the road): Fleury, 4-0 v Flyers, 10/5/06 Fleury, 3-0 v NJ, 10/3/13 Silovs, 3-0 @ NYR, 10/7/25 Silovs, 7-0 @ Phil, 9/30/26 0102
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Third line tonight combined for 6 points: Hallander 1-2-3, Lapierre 1-1-2 and Koivunen 1-0-1. 0140
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Robertson tonight becomes the 7th player in Pens' history to record multiple goals in his first game with the team. Joins Brazeau, Rob Brown, John Chabot, Guentzel, Avery Hayes and Bobby Simpson. 2301
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Tonight also matches the largest margin of victory ever by Pens in a game against the Flyers. Beat them 7-0 at home on 3/19/88. 0140
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Tonight marks the Pens' most lopsided win ever @ Flyers. They had won 2 regular season games there by 6 goals. 0171
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Tonight was the most decisive win in a season opener in Pens' history. Previous biggest margin of victory was 5 in an 8-3 home win over Leafs on 10/7/95. 0353
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026@redirect.bsky.app Have no way of looking this up, but wondering if a G has ever pitched shutouts in consecutive NHL season openers. If so, when both on road? 280
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Have no way of looking this up, but wondering if a G has ever pitched shutouts in consecutive NHL season openers. If so, when both on road? 2140
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026First career SHG by Robertson, who also had one in preseason. 0190
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Lot to like about the Pens’ efforts backchecking so far tonight. 0131
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026This is the first multi-point game of Hallander's career (1-1-2 through 2 periods). 0151
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Third career multi-point regular season game for Korczak (0-2-2 through 2 periods). His last was with VGK, 0-2-2 vs. Sharks last Dec. 23. 0180
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Flyers getting booed off the ice in their season opener against the Pens… priceless. 15712
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Soderblom wins so many board battles because he knows how to use his reach. 0210
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Second career goal for Hallander, both on the road. Good for him after his unlucky season last season. 0141
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Here in the second, 11 different Pens have points as they’ve built a 4-0 lead. Only Lapierre has 2 (1-1-2). 1133
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Second unit cashes in. Makes Martone pay for a dumb penalty. 0150
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Flyers without a shot over the final 12:25 of the first period. 0120
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Lizotte led Pens with 3 shots in the first period. Also won 4 of 5 draws. 1120
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Good first period by Pens. 22-9 edge in attempted shots on the way to a 2-0 lead. 0100
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Terrific look by Girard, and great finish by Koivunen. 0140
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Including preseason, Robertson has played 3 games in a Pens sweater. Goal in each. 0222
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Van Riemsdyk becomes the fourth NJ native to skate for Pens, joining Clifton, Johnstone, O’Connor. Robertson becomes the 8th California native to skate for Pens, joining Zucker, Bennett, Nieto, Orpik, St. Ivany, Sterling, Ruhwedel. 070
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Over the previous 10 seasons, the majority of players scoring the first goal of the Pens’ season has been unlikely candidates – Schultz, Oleksiak, Jankowski, Heinen, Beauvillier, Brazeau. Others were Hornqvist, Geno, Sid, Rust. 070
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026From 1967 through the spring of 1993, four Swedish players skated for Pens: Hakansson, Lindstrom, Ulf Samuelsson, Kjell Samuelsson. Tonight, 4 Swedes are expected in Pens’ lineup: Karlsson, Rakell, Soderblom, Hallander -- with a fifth (Gustaffson) on the roster. 070
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Pens are 4-0-1 in their last 5 regular season GP against Vladar. In those games, Vladar is .883, 3.51. 070
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026In his three starts against the Flyers in the 2026 playoffs, Silovs was .939, 1.52. Over his last 90:29 @ Philadelphia, he’s allowed 1 GA on 40 shots. 091
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026In their last 3 GP against each other in the regular season, Pens are 7-for-14 on the power play while the Flyers are 1-for-13. 090
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Geno is 6-12-18 in 18 career games that were season openers for Pens. He has 7 assists in his last 9 season openers, including 2 last season @ NY Rangers. 0100
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Sid is 9-10-19 in 18 career games that were season openers for Pens. Last time he played an opener @ Flyers on 1/13/21, he scored in a 3-6 loss. He has 7 goals in his last 11 season openers. 080
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Rust’s injury luck to start seasons is pretty poor; this is the third consecutive season opener he’s missed with injury (lower body in 2025, upper body in 2024). He also missed the opener in 2019 (hand) and 2016 (unspecified). 091
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Given the team’s injuries to start the season. . . a look at the % of possible regular season games for which these players dressed since they became NHL regulars with Pens: Karlsson (97.1) Rakell (90.0) Rust (86.3) Sid (86.1) Letang (84.2) Geno (81.0, includes 10 GP suspended) 060
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026After Sid ripped a slap shot for a goal in Pens’ preseason finale @ Buffalo, most goals scored on slap shots by Pens since start of 09-10 season, per NHL: Geno (62) Letang (46) Sid (37) Kunitz (18) Niskanen (13) Guentzel (12) Karlsson (11) 0121
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Nine players who dressed for Pens in the season opener one year ago are not in the lineup tonight: Shea, Brazeau, Wotherspoon, Mantha, Brunicke, Tomasino, Acciari, Jones, Jarry. 0121
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Since the Penguins entered the NHL, they have used 817 players in the regular season – most of any franchise in the league (No. 2 NYR have used 811). Pens adding five to their number tonight: Robertson, Lapierre, Carlile, van Riemsdyk, Korczak. 090
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Pens have lost each of their last 7 regular season games @ Flyers when allowing the first goal, and they have been outscored in those games by a cumulative 32-8. 181
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Muse tonight hopes to become the third Pens' coach to win consecutive season openers played on the road. Boileau did this in 1974 & 1975, and Bylsma did it in 2011 & 2013. 0111
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Letang holds Pens’ all-time best plus-minus figure against the Flyers (+31), and it’s not even close. Sid is second at +17. 0120
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Only two clubs had BOTH of their special teams rank in the top 7 last season: VGK, which got to within 2 wins of the Cup, and Pens (PP and PK both #7). Pens will need to be solid in both areas again this season if they want to make the playoffs. 090
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Pens are 13-3-4 in their last 20 regular season games against Flyers and have points in 5 straight (3-0-2). Pens are also 3-2-2 in their last 7 regular season games @ Flyers. 180
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Pens are 27-24-1 with 6 ties all-time in season openers (.526). 060
Bob Grove @bobgrove91.bsky.social · 30/09/2026When Pens play their season opener on the road, they are 13-11-0 with 2 ties (.538). Among NHL teams who have done this 25 or more times, only the Blues (.609) and Flyers (.540) have a better points percentage. 080
