The Pittsburgh Penguins suffered a historically poor performance, conceding six goals in the first period against the Dallas Stars, leading to a 7-1 defeat at home. This dismal start was reminiscent of some of the worst periods in the team's history, dating back to losses in the 1980s. Rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist was pulled early after allowing three goals on eight shots, and his replacement, Alex Nedeljkovic, did not fare much better. Despite the loss, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby remains influential, though he has not heavily intervened in team decisions since advocating for keeping key teammates in 2022. The Penguins' tradition of offering free chili to fans when they score seven goals at home, now sponsored by Eat n’Park, was humorously flipped by the Stars' performance. Questions about the Penguins’ defensive lapses continue, suggesting a need for better decision-making by both forwards and defensemen.