Artūrs Šilovs logged his fourth start in the Pittsburgh net on Thursday night, turning aside 30 of 34 shots for an 88.2% save percentage as the Pittsburgh Penguins dropped a 4–3 overtime decision to the Utah Mammoth, TVNET Sports reported. The contest saw the hosts surrender a late lead before Mikhail Sergachev struck in the extra session to seal the extra point for the visitors. The defeat followed an earlier 4–5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens where Sergei Murashov tended the goal and stopped 22 of 27 shots for an 81.5% save percentage.
Logan Cooley Strikes Late Before Mikhail Sergachev Wins It in Overtime
Logan Cooley powered the Utah attack with a three-goal hat trick, providing the game’s dramatic inflection point when he buried an equalizer with just one second remaining on the clock in regulation, after the hosts had claimed a 3–2 advantage 25 seconds before the end of the period. With the score locked at 3–3 after 60 minutes following period scores of 0–2, 1–0, 2–1, and 0–1, Sergachev ended matters in the extra session by firing a wrist shot from close range past Šilovs.
Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Ben Kindel Provide Penguins Scoring
Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Ben Kindel supplied the offense for Pittsburgh, while the Penguins registered a matching 25 shots on target against Sebastian Cossa. Kindel’s appearance carried added significance after he returned to practice just days following a frightening medical episode last week during a team flight that required emergency medical transport to a hospital. Rakell extended his goal-scoring streak to four consecutive games. Discipline dictated a clean contest, with each team assessed only a single minor penalty.
Dan Muse: "We put our goalies in tough spots when guys are getting clean looks there at the net — sometimes clean looks and second opportunities around the net. Those things are preventable. Breakdowns and mistakes are going to happen. … It’s just, it’s happening too much."
Dan Muse Assesses the Defensive Breakdowns and Šilovs’ Workload
Pittsburgh head coach Dan Muse praised his goaltender’s efforts while addressing ongoing structural issues in the defensive zone, criticizing players for leaving netminders vulnerable to clean looks and second opportunities in dangerous areas. “He was brilliant. Šilovs echoed those sentiments regarding the heartbreak of conceding so late in regulation, while holding 5 wins through 9 appearances this season with a 2.98 goals-against average and an 88.9% save percentage, compared to Murashov’s 3.83 goals-against average and 87.1% save percentage across 5 games. “I couldn’t do anything more there. It’s tough to let in a goal in the very last second that brings the tie,” the Latvian goaltender said, emphasizing the value of regular playing time in finding a consistent rhythm.”
Penguins Struggle in Standings Amid Losing Streak
The overtime setback leaves the Penguins with 12 points through 13 games, placing them 14th in the Eastern Conference standings and sixth in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth improved to 18 points through 14 games, holding fourth place in the Western Conference. Pittsburgh continues its regular-season schedule looking to halt a slide that includes three consecutive losses and seven defeats over their last nine outings, continuing a stretch where Evgeni Malkin remained sidelined due to injury and Sidney Crosby was held without a point to remain tied with Marcel Dionne at 1771 points for sixth place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.
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