The Pittsburgh Penguins begin the week 11th in the Eastern Conference, seven points out of a playoff spot. They do not have a regulation win in nearly a month.

Since that most recent regulation win (Jan. 15 against the Seattle Kraken), only three teams have a worse points percentage.

In short, things are bleak, and the way things have gone, it doesn't feel as though they're going to improve anytime soon, even if the underlying numbers have mostly been positive. The 5-on-5 play is uninspiring at best, running below, around, or under 50 percent in just about any underlying number you care to name. The power play is punchless, as it has been for most of the season. The penalty kill isn't stopping as much as you might like it to. A lot of these recent losses have been by a single goal, and you c