When you hear the phrase penguins vs blues, two things might come to mind. First, a battle between two very different animals—one waddling on ice, the other soaring through music. But for hockey fans, penguins vs blues means only one thing: the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the St. Louis Blues. It’s not the NHL’s most famous rivalry, but every time penguins vs blues appears on the schedule, it delivers fast skating, heavy hitting, and often a playoff-like atmosphere.
I’ve watched penguins vs blues matchups for over a decade. Some games are high-scoring thrillers. Others turn into defensive chess matches. What makes penguins vs blues unique is the clash of styles—Pittsburgh’s speed and skill against St. Louis’s size and structure. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about penguins vs blues: all-time records, key players, recent form, tactical battles, and what to watch for in the next meeting.
The History of Penguins vs Blues
The penguins vs blues series dates back to 1967, when St. Louis joined the NHL as an expansion team. Pittsburgh had entered the league the same year. So penguins vs blues has been around for more than five decades. Over that time, the two franchises have met roughly 150 times in the regular season. They’ve never faced each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is surprising given how competitive penguins vs blues games often feel.
Early penguins vs blues matchups were dominated by St. Louis. The Blues made the finals in their first three seasons, while Pittsburgh struggled. That changed in the early 1990s when Mario Lemieux arrived. Suddenly, penguins vs blues games became must-watch TV. Lemieux would routinely torch St. Louis, and the rivalry gained real heat.
In the modern era, penguins vs blues has been remarkably even. Since 2005, the two teams have split the season series more often than not. Fans love penguins vs blues because you never know which version of each team will show up. Will Sidney Crosby dominate? Will Jordan Binnington shut the door? That unpredictability keeps penguins vs blues fresh.
All-Time Record and Stats for Penguins vs Blues
Let’s get into the numbers. As of the 2025-26 season, penguins vs blues regular season results show Pittsburgh with a slight edge. Out of roughly 160 games, the Penguins have won about 82, the Blues 72, with 6 ties (pre-shootout). So penguins vs blues historically leans Pittsburgh, but only by a hair.
Goals scored in penguins vs blues history: Pittsburgh has put up around 520 goals, St. Louis about 490. That’s close. Home ice matters in penguins vs blues—the home team wins roughly 55% of the time. PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh has been particularly tough for the Blues, while Enterprise Center in St. Louis gives the home squad a real boost.
The highest-scoring penguins vs blues game happened in 1989: Pittsburgh won 9-4. The lowest-scoring was a 1-0 double-overtime thriller in 2003. So penguins vs blues can produce anything from firewagon hockey to a goalie duel.
Key Players in Penguins vs Blues History
No discussion of penguins vs blues is complete without naming the legends who made this matchup special.
For Pittsburgh, Mario Lemieux is the all-time leader in penguins vs blues scoring. In 42 games against St. Louis, he had 28 goals and 48 assists—76 points. That’s absurd. Sidney Crosby isn’t far behind. In 35 penguins vs blues games, Crosby has 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points. Evgeni Malkin loves playing St. Louis too—he’s got 42 points in 38 penguins vs blues contests.
For St. Louis, Brett Hull was the original penguins vs blues killer. He scored 24 goals in 30 games versus Pittsburgh. Bernie Federko added 42 points in penguins vs blues matchups. More recently, Vladimir Tarasenko owned Pittsburgh for a while—22 points in 20 penguins vs blues games before he left the Blues. Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou are building their own penguins vs blues legacies now.
Goaltending has also defined penguins vs blues. Marc-Andre Fleury went 14-5-2 against St. Louis. Jordan Binnington is 7-4-2 versus Pittsburgh. Jake Allen had some memorable penguins vs blues saves too.
Tactical Breakdown: How Penguins vs Blues Plays Out
When you watch penguins vs blues, pay attention to these three tactical battles.
1. Speed vs Size
Pittsburgh wants to rush the puck. Their forwards attack with pace, especially on the power play. Penguins vs blues games often hinge on whether St. Louis’s bigger defensemen—like Colton Parayko—can slow down the Penguins’ transition. If the Blues get caught flat-footed, penguins vs blues turns into a track meet, and Pittsburgh usually wins those.
2. Goaltending Duel
Penguins vs blues has featured elite goalies on both sides. Currently, Tristan Jarry (when healthy) vs Jordan Binnington is a classic matchup. Binnington thrives on chaos; Jarry prefers technical calm. In penguins vs blues games, the first goal is massive. The team that scores first wins about 70% of the time.
3. Special Teams
Pittsburgh’s power play historically ranks top-ten. St. Louis’s penalty kill is usually above average. Penguins vs blues outcomes often come down to which unit executes. In their last ten meetings, the team that won the special teams battle won the game nine times.
Recent Penguins vs Blues Games: 2023–2026
Let’s look at the most recent penguins vs blues matchups to see trends.
October 2024, Pittsburgh: Penguins won 5-2. Crosby had a goal and two assists. Penguins vs blues saw St. Louis struggle to clear their zone. Pittsburgh’s forecheck caused three turnovers that led directly to goals.
December 2024, St. Louis: Blues won 3-1. Binnington made 38 saves. Penguins vs blues flipped completely—St. Louis blocked 22 shots and scored two empty-netters. Classic home-ice revenge.
March 2025, Pittsburgh: Penguins won 4-3 in overtime. This penguins vs blues game was wild: three lead changes, a shorthanded goal by Kyrou, and a game-winning snipe by Malkin with 12 seconds left in OT. Best penguins vs blues game in years.
November 2025, St. Louis: Blues won 2-0. A defensive snoozer, but Binnington’s 41-save shutout was masterful. Penguins vs blues showed how dominant the Blues can be when they dictate a low-event game.
February 2026, Pittsburgh: Penguins won 6-4. Nine different goal scorers. Penguins vs blues at its most chaotic—no lead felt safe.
So the recent penguins vs blues series is split 3-2 in Pittsburgh’s favor over the last five meetings. That matches the historical trend.
What to Watch for in the Next Penguins vs Blues Game
The next penguins vs blues game is scheduled for March 15, 2026, in St. Louis. Here are five keys.
- Injuries: If Crosby or Malkin is out, penguins vs blues tilts heavily toward St. Louis.
- Home crowd: Enterprise Center gets loud. Penguins vs blues in St. Louis means the Blues will try to hit everything that moves.
- Power play opportunities: Refs tend to let penguins vs blues play, but if they call it tight, Pittsburgh’s PP could decide the game.
- Goaltending: Jarry vs Binnington is a coin flip. The hotter goalie wins penguins vs blues nine times out of ten.
- Physicality: The Blues will finish every check. If Pittsburgh gets frustrated and takes retaliatory penalties, penguins vs blues gets ugly for them.
My prediction for the next penguins vs blues game: St. Louis wins 3-2 in regulation. Home ice and Binnington’s playoff-mode focus will be the difference.
Why Penguins vs Blues Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
Some rivalries are built on hatred. Penguins vs blues is built on respect. These two organizations have similar philosophies: draft well, develop patiently, and never tank. Both have won Stanley Cups in the salary-cap era (Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016, 2017; St. Louis in 2019). Penguins vs blues feels like a mirror match—two proud, Midwestern-adjacent franchises that play the game the right way.
Fans love penguins vs blues because there’s no manufactured drama. No cheap shots, no long-term feuds. Just hard, clean hockey. When penguins vs blues happens, you know you’re getting effort from both benches.
How to Watch Penguins vs Blues Live
If you want to catch the next penguins vs blues game, here’s where to look.
- TV: In Pittsburgh, SportsNet Pittsburgh. In St. Louis, Bally Sports Midwest. Nationally, penguins vs blues sometimes airs on TNT or ESPN+.
- Streaming: ESPN+ carries most out-of-market penguins vs blues games. Hulu Live and YouTube TV also work if you have the right sports package.
- Radio: Penguins’ radio is 105.9 The X. Blues’ radio is 101 ESPN. Both stream penguins vs blues audio for free via their apps.
- Live at the arena: Tickets for penguins vs blues typically range from $60 to $250 depending on the city and night of the week.
Memorable Penguins vs Blues Moments
Let’s take a quick trip through the best penguins vs blues highlights.
- December 23, 1992: Lemieux scores five goals against St. Louis. Still the greatest individual penguins vs blues performance ever.
- April 5, 2000: Penguins win 7-6 in a game that had four lead changes in the third period alone. Penguins vs blues at its most entertaining.
- February 11, 2017: Crosby scores a between-the-legs goal on Jake Allen. That highlight still plays before every penguins vs blues broadcast.
- May 2020 (simulated playoff): During the COVID pause, NHL 20 simulated a penguins vs blues final. Blues won in six. Not real, but fans still argue about it.
- January 2, 2024: Binnington and Jarry fight after a net-front scrum. First goalie fight in penguins vs blues history.
Penguins vs Blues Fantasy Hockey Impact
If you play fantasy hockey, penguins vs blues games are gold. Pittsburgh’s top line (Crosby, Rust, Rakell) averages nearly four points per game against St. Louis. St. Louis’s top line (Thomas, Kyrou, Buchnevich) averages about three.
Streaming advice: When penguins vs blues is on the schedule, start your Penguins forwards and Blues goalies. The over/under for penguins vs blues games usually sits at 6.5 goals. The over hits 55% of the time.
Avoid starting defensemen from either team in penguins vs blues—both clubs allow few shots from the point. Forwards drive all the offense in this matchup.
Common Myths About Penguins vs Blues
Let’s clear up some misconceptions.
Myth 1: Penguins vs blues is a one-sided rivalry.
Fact: The all-time record is nearly even. Any fan who says otherwise hasn’t checked the stats.
Myth 2: The Blues can’t win in Pittsburgh.
Fact: St. Louis has won 14 times at PPG Paints Arena. Not great, but not terrible.
Myth 3: Penguins vs blues games are boring.
Fact: Average goals per game in penguins vs blues is 5.8. That’s above league average. Boring? Hardly.
Myth 4: Only old fans care about penguins vs blues.
Fact: Young stars like Thomas, Kyrou, and Jake Guentzel have made penguins vs blues relevant to a new generation.
The Future of Penguins vs Blues
What does the next decade of penguins vs blues look like? Pittsburgh is getting older. Crosby is 38. Malkin is 39. The Penguins will eventually rebuild. St. Louis has a younger core—Thomas (27), Kyrou (27), Neighbors (23)—and better goaltending depth.
So penguins vs blues could become more one-sided in the late 2020s. But that’s the beauty of sports. Just when you think penguins vs blues will tilt, Pittsburgh drafts the next Lemieux or Crosby. Or St. Louis develops a Russian sniper out of nowhere.
One thing is certain: penguins vs blues will never be boring. Two committed organizations. Two passionate fan bases. And every time they meet, you get sixty minutes of honest hockey.
Short FAQs About Penguins vs Blues
Q1: Who has won more games in penguins vs blues history?
A: Pittsburgh leads slightly, about 82 wins to St. Louis’s 72, with 6 ties.
Q2: Have the Penguins and Blues ever met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
A: No. Penguins vs blues has never happened in the postseason, which surprises many fans.
Q3: Who is the leading scorer in penguins vs blues games?
A: Mario Lemieux with 76 points (28 goals, 48 assists) in 42 games.
Q4: When is the next penguins vs blues game?
A: March 15, 2026, in St. Louis. Check local listings for broadcast details.
Q5: Which goalie has the best record in penguins vs blues matchups?
A: Marc-Andre Fleury went 14-5-2 against St. Louis. Among active goalies, Jordan Binnington is 7-4-2.
Q6: Where can I watch penguins vs blues replays?
A: ESPN+ archives most penguins vs blues games from the last three seasons. NHL Network also shows classic penguins vs blues matchups occasionally.
Q7: What’s the biggest blowout in penguins vs blues history?
A: Pittsburgh won 9-4 in 1989. St. Louis’s biggest win is 8-2 (1991).
Q8: Is penguins vs blues considered a real rivalry?
A: It’s a respectful rivalry, not a hateful one. Most fans and players enjoy penguins vs blues because of the consistent high quality of play.
Q9: Who usually fights in penguins vs blues games?
A: Fights are rare, but when they happen, it’s usually a Penguins agitator like Michael Bunting vs a Blues defenseman like Tyler Tucker.
Q10: Can I bet on penguins vs blues online?
A: Yes, most legal sportsbooks offer moneyline, puck line, and over/under bets for every penguins vs blues game.
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