Penguins' Karlsson Leads Surge Without Crosby & Malkin

0:00On March 28th, the Pittsburgh Penguins have turned things around this season, climbing out of a rough patch with real momentum building. Despite injuries and inconsistency, they're showing grit, especially without their top centers. Since the Olympic break, Sydney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin have been sidelined, creating huge gaps in the lineup. That's where Eric Carlson steps up big, dominating games, like his prime days. In March alone, Carlson notched 8 goals in 13 assists for 21 points, tying for second in the league behind only Nikita Kutcherov. He's controlling the pace, sparking offense, and steadying the defense. The big shift came when they parted ways with longtime coach Mike Sullivan and brought in Dan Muse. His fresh approach trust the players more, gives clear roles, and lets everyone contribute without forcing it. Now the whole team's buying in from the fourth line to the stars. Carlson's fire is lighting the way, and the penguins are starting to feel like contenders again. You've been listening to NHL News Today, AI-powered team coverage.