Arturs Silovs, Penguins struggle as point streak snapped in Winnipeg

Matt Vensel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 1, 2025

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Penguins posted the NHL’s best record in October, winning eight of 12 games in their surprising start. On Saturday, though, they opened November with a dud.

The Winnipeg Jets rolled to a 5-2 victory against the Penguins at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Jets scored 15 seconds into the matinee matchup and never looked back to hand the Penguins just their third regulation loss this season.

The loss snapped an eight-game point streak for rookie coach Dan Muse’s squad.

It was a rocky afternoon for Arturs Silovs, who gave up four goals on 33 shots and had a Yakety Sax stickhandling gaffe that led to a back-breaking goal for Winnipeg.

The Penguins got off to another poor start. That issue has popped up in a few recent games. On Saturday, they were down two goals just 2:43 in. Gabriel Vilardi banked one in off Silovs on the opening shift, then Brad Lambert buried his first career goal.

The visitors woke up and pushed back against the Jets. They peppered Eric Comrie, who started in goal for Winnipeg instead of Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning MVP. But despite firing 10 of the final 15 shots in the first period, Pittsburgh could not score.

Winnipeg put the game out of reach in the second. Vladislav Namestnikov finished off an odd-man rush. Kyle Connor made it 4-0 by beating Silovs on a penalty shot.

Connor was awarded the penalty shot after Silovs left his net to play the puck on a Penguins power play, coughed it up with a head-scratching pass that caromed off the corner boards then threw his stick as Connor tried to tuck it into the empty net.

The Penguins got goals from Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte to get within shouting distance of the Jets. But they would not pull any closer. Comrie was sharp, and Connor tacked on an empty-netter, his second goal of the game, with 1:21 remaining.

It was over when ...

Namestnikov made it 3-0 by tapping in a pass off the rush. On that Jets goal early in the second, Owen Pickering fell, creating an odd-man rush. Jonathan Toews made a patient play to find Namestnikov at the far post after Kris Letang lost track of him.

Stat of the game

3 — straight losses for Silovs. The previous two were in shootouts against Columbus and Philadelphia. The 24-year-old now has a 3-2-2 record on the season.

Around the boards

— Justin Brazeau missed Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury he apparently picked up Thursday in Minnesota. The Penguins labeled the forward as day to day.

— With Brazeau out, Philip Tomasino got back in the Penguins lineup. He skated on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha. Tomasino had two shots on goal, but that line as a whole was pretty quiet with Tomasino in Brazeau’s spot.

— Rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke also suited up. It was his eighth NHL game. He replaced Matt Dumba in the lineup and played alongside Pickering on the third pair. Brunicke and Pickering were out on the ice for both of the Jets’ early goals.

— For Pickering, Saturday was his first NHL game back in his hometown of Winnipeg.

— Silovs has performed poorly in his two shootout appearances, allowing five goals on six attempts. So it was no surprise to see Connor beat him on that penalty shot.

— One bright spot for the Penguins was the penalty kill, which went 3 for 3 against one of the NHL’s better power plays. That unit improved to 10 for 11 on this road trip.

— Crosby scored his goal on the power play. It was his fourth power-play tally to date.

Coming up next

On Sunday, the Penguins are scheduled to practice in Toronto — or what’s left of it after the Blue Jays hosted Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night. They will close out their four-game road trip Monday night against the Maple Leafs.