Penguins’ woes increase as Anthony Mantha joins list of injured players

Anthony Mantha is now being listed day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Entering the home stretch of the NHL season and in the midst of an intense playoff race, being short yet another man could be all she wrote for the Pens.

Mantha’s confirmed injury is the latest to affect the Penguins in the 2025-26 NHL season. According to ESPN, Dan Muse’s side is currently missing five players: Evgeni Malkin (upper-body), Blake Lizotte (upper-body), Filip Hallander (leg), Caleb Jones (lower-body), and Peyton Kettles.

Pittsburgh is learning that you win some and you lose some. Since Sidney Crosby returned from his lower-body injury, the Penguins have seen other key players go down. They can’t afford any more missteps, but they are being dealt a tough hand. Still, there are no excuses if they want to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Playoff race in the East

The Penguins are currently in a Stanley Cup Playoff spot. However, they are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. The Pens are third in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points. The New York Islanders are breathing down their necks as they sit just outside the wild-card spots with 85 points.

Sidney Crosby #87 of the Penguins.

The Isles have one more game played, though. Pittsburgh could take a three-point lead over their pursuers. The way their latest outings have gone, though, fans in the City of Bridges are not so sure about it.

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The Penguins have dropped their last two games while being outscored 11–3 by the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche. Crosby took responsibility after the loss to the Avs, but it’ll take more than a public apology to turn the tide. Pittsburgh will now face the music, as its next five games will be against playoff teams or those well in contention to make the postseason.

Penguins’ next five games

• at Ottawa Senators (3/26)
• vs Dallas Stars (3/28)
• at New York Islanders (3/30)
• vs Detroit Red Wings (3/31)
• at Tampa Bay Lightning (4/2)

With 11 games left on the 2025-26 NHL season, the Pens’ form in their next five outings could make or break their playoff chances. Facing direct competitors for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Crosby and company must prove they can hold their ground and belong in the postseason.