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Sidney Crosby calling it out confirms Penguins' defensive breakdown is real
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Josh Yohe got Sidney Crosby saying it after Colorado's 6-2 win, six goals against is killing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the worst time.
The quote matters because Crosby did not hide behind bad luck or one ugly bounce.
Dave Molinari pushed the same alarm, Pittsburgh's team defense and goaltending have both started to leak. That turns this from a bad night into a real roster-structure problem.
The issue is not just what happens between the pipes. The slot is opening too easily, coverage is arriving late, and the first clear out of danger is not clean enough.
That is why this feels bigger than one blowout. When the middle of the ice gets loose, every line change becomes survival hockey.
You can see the exact moment the coverage starts chasing instead of dictating.
Crosby's value here is not the self-blame. It is the diagnosis, because elite centers know when five-man structure stops supporting the goalie.
Pittsburgh's next game is at Ottawa on Thursday, March 26. That makes the fix immediate, not theoretical.
Sidney Crosby sees Pittsburgh Penguins unraveling
Fans have every right to be frustrated, because this looks less like effort and more like a team losing its defensive habits in March.
The Penguins do not need a miracle adjustment. They need shorter shifts in-zone, stronger weak-side support, and cleaner exits off the glass or through the middle.
That ripple effect matters for the deadline chatter, too. A team that bleeds rush chances and slot touches can talk about help, but the next game still comes down to details.
If Pittsburgh tightens the middle, the top-six spends more time attacking. If not, this week starts looking like the point where the season slipped.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 25|61 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby calling it out confirms Penguins' defensive breakdown is real Are the Penguins' defensive habits now the biggest threat to their playoff push? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 95.1 % |
| No | 3 | 4.9 % |
| List of polls | ||