With the Pittsburgh Penguins one of the most recognizable names in hockey these days, as well as the proud owners of one of the NHL’s coolest logos (an fiercely determined penguin equipped with gloves, skates and hockey stick*), it is easy to forget that the franchise was seen as something of a joke until the last years of the 1980s. The Penguins joined the NHL in 1967 as part of the post-Original Six expansion, mainly serving as cannon fodder for the rest of the league’s expansion teams (for those who enjoy the subversion of the ecological food chain, the Penguins munched the short-lived California Golden Seals in 1970 to win their first-ever playoff series). As the team continued to struggle on the ice in the years to come, however, as well as financially, there was talk of the franchise folding or relocating. Everything began to change in 1984 when the Penguins acquired Mario Lemieux as first pick in the draft that summer. Lemieux instantly lived up to his reputation (and name, which literally translates from French as “The Best”), scoring a breakaway goal on his very first shift in his very first game. Even with Super Mario, often considered alongside Gretzky as one of the greatest players of all time and often touted as a better pure goalscorer than the Great One, tearing up the league scoring charts, it took the Penguins a few seasons to assemble a strong supporting cast around the big man from Quebec. In 1989, the team fired its first warning shots in the postseason, sweeping the New York Rangers before losing to the powerful Philadelphia Flyers in Game Seven of the second round. With Lemieux suffering from the severe back problems that would sadly end up limiting what should have been an even longer and more productive career, the team missed the playoffs completely in 1990, which meant no one could have seen what was coming in 1991. With talented rookie Jaromir Jagr (nicknamed Mario 2, a reference to the popular video game of the time, due to him having a similar helmet, haircut, and body size to #66) joining a rejuvenated Lemieux, the Penguins finished top of their division in the regular season, then powered through the playoffs past the New Jersey Devils in seven, the Washington Capitals in five, the high-powered Boston Bruins in six in the Conference Finals, setting up a Stanley Cup Finals entanglement with the Minnesota North Stars. With both teams looking to win their first-ever Stanley Cup, it began as a fiercely contested series, but ended with the Penguins blowing off the doors in Game Six with an 8-0 win to seal the series and bring the Cup to Pittsburgh. The team followed this up in 1992 with a second Stanley Cup for an incredible back-to-back double triumph. Tragically, Lemieux was hit by bad luck on top of his injury problems in 1993, when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, but incredibly, following treatment, he still finished the season as the top scorer in the league despite missing a quarter of the games. The Penguins continued to be one of league’s best teams throughout the 1990s, though they, and the hockey world, suffered a huge shock in 1997 when Lemieux prematurely retired. He shocked everyone by returning in 2000, scoring in his first game and going on to lead the Penguins into a deep playoff run in 2001 where they lost in Conference Finals to a stifling Devils defense. The future looked questionable after Lemieux retired, but then a young player named Sidney Crosby came the Penguins way in the 2005 draft and was later joined by Russian star Evgeni Malkin. Along with young netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, the pair made the Penguins into one of the most exciting teams in the NHL again, losing narrowly to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals before exacting revenge in 2009, when they lifted Pittsburgh’s third Stanley Cup after a thrilling 2-1 Game Seven win. Better yet was still to come in 2016 and 2017, when Crosby and Malkin led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, putting the once-troubled franchise in a tie for 6th on the all-time championships list. Crosby and Malkin are still with the Penguins, though now in the twilight of their careers. Could there be one more last (ice) dance in store for their Penguins? Only a fool would completely rule it out. 

*The Penguins also used to play in the silver dome-shaped Civic Arena, which was ingeniously nicknamed the Igloo (for those who enjoy the subversion of geography, given that penguins and igloos hail from opposite ends of the globe…). 

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Tickets and Ticket Price

Where Can I Buy Pittsburgh Penguins Game Tickets?

You can get cheap Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets at TicketX. Unlike other resale sites such as StubHub, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster, where service fees may fluctuate depending on venues, ticket types, and ticket prices, TicketX has an industry-low flat fee, which makes Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets significantly cheaper.

Pittsburgh Penguins Ticket Prices

The cheapest Pittsburgh Penguins game ticket starts from $19.80 at Honda Center on Jan 23 on TicketX.

How to Buy Pittsburgh Penguins Game Tickets on TicketX Desktop and Mobile Website

1. To purchase Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets on TicketX’s desktop website, go to the Pittsburgh Penguins page or search their name in the search bar.

2. Once you’re on the Pittsburgh Penguins page, find events near you by using the location filter.

3. To select the date that is convenient for you, we recommend using the date filters at the top right corner of the page. When you find the ideal event, click “Find Tickets” to go to the ticket listing page.

4. Ticket prices depend on whether you buy an even or odd number of tickets. Please specify your desired quantity and press "Continue” in the ticket quantity pop-up. If you do not wish to specify the quantity, press "Skip.”

5. To sort Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets by the lowest price, click the price filter button in the top right corner.

6. If you have a specific budget, you can use the top left filter to set a price range by either adjusting the price sliders or manually entering your desired minimum and maximum prices.

7. Once you find your desired ticket, proceed to check out.

8. Enter or select an email address to use for receiving the tickets. Then select the desired ticket quantity and payment method. Once you complete your purchase, your Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets will be sent to your chosen email.

How to Buy Pittsburgh Penguins Game Tickets on TicketX Mobile App

1. Once you’ve downloaded the TicketX App, you must either sign up or log in to your account.

2. At the bottom of the mobile app, select the magnifying glass and search Pittsburgh Penguins in the search bar.

3. After you select the Pittsburgh Penguins page, please check the dates that are convenient for you and see if there are any games near you, then select your ideal event.

4. Once you select your desired event, you'll see a seat map and a list of all available tickets. To sort the tickets by the lowest price for Pittsburgh Penguins, click the price filter button in the top right corner.

5. After you pick the Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets you want to purchase, select the number of tickets you want to purchase, and tap ‘Continue.’

6. Proceed to check out.

7. Once the purchase is complete, you will receive your Pittsburgh Penguins tickets in your mailbox!

Pittsburgh Penguins Games 2024-2025

Upcoming Pittsburgh Penguins Game Dates

Upcoming Pittsburgh Penguins Game Dates

Image Credit: “Horton pushing through” © Dan4th Nicholas (Licensed under CC BY 2.0)