Mike Sullivan Debuts with Loss Against the Penguins
In a night filled with emotions and reunions, Mike Sullivan, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins for ten seasons and led them to win two Stanley Cup championships, experienced a bitter defeat in his debut as coach of the New York Rangers. The game, played at Madison Square Garden, saw the Penguins win with a score of 3-0, frustrating Sullivan’s start with the Rangers.The Rangers failed to score, being shut out by goaltender Arturs Silovs, who made 22 saves. Justin Brazeau, a Penguins player, stood out by scoring two goals, contributing to his team’s victory. The Rangers were outshot 15-5 in the third period, showing offensive difficulties in Sullivan’s debut.“Obviously it’s different. I knew it would be,” Sullivan commented after the defeat. “But I’m excited about the group we have here with the Rangers. I’m really looking forward to working with this group.”
Mike Sullivan
Sullivan’s departure from the Penguins occurred in April, despite having a contract through the 2026-27 season. Hired in 2015-16, Sullivan left a notable legacy with 409 victories, being the fourteenth coach in NHL history to reach 400 wins with the same team. His time in Pittsburgh included the conquest of the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cups. A few days later, Sullivan was hired by the Rangers to replace Peter Laviolette, signing a five-year contract that made him the highest-paid coach in the NHL. Previously, Sullivan had been an assistant in New York from 2009 to 2013, a period in which he coached Chris Drury, current general manager of the Rangers. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby acknowledged the uniqueness of facing Sullivan from the opposing bench. In addition to Sullivan, Crosby and their teammates encountered former Penguins assistants David Quinn and Ty Hennes, now on the Rangers’ coaching staff. While Sullivan suffered the defeat, Dan Muse, the new coach of the Penguins, celebrated the victory. Muse, former assistant to Laviolette in New York, had also been considered for the position before Sullivan’s arrival. Crosby expressed his satisfaction with Muse’s victory.“I think we have a long way to go to become the team we want to be,” said Sullivan, who will also coach Team USA in the ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Mike Sullivan
In the Pittsburgh team, Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang were part of the initial lineup, a trio that has played together since 2007.“Every team will tell you, especially at the beginning of the season, that it’s not going to be perfect. You’re just trying to get on the same page as much as possible. And I feel like it prepared us well to start the year,” Crosby said.
Sidney Crosby
“We had three players who have been playing together for 20 years, and I thought it was important that they started the game together,” Muse noted.
Dan Muse
