Sidney Crosby sounds alarm after Penguins blow multi-goal lead again, this time against Utah Mammoth

The Pittsburgh Penguins walked off the ice in Utah with another quiet locker room and louder questions chasing them. For the second straight night, a comfortable lead slipped through their fingers late, turning confidence into concern.

A three-goal cushion entering the third period should have been enough. Instead, it became another reminder that something vital is missing when games reach their final moments.This loss felt heavier because it followed a familiar script. The Penguins did much of the hard work early, played fast hockey, and controlled long stretches. Then the urgency faded. The third period arrived, and the grip loosened again.

Overtime only underlined the frustration, as a night that should have ended with two points closed with a 5-4 defeat and growing pressure in the Eastern Conference race.

Sidney Crosby opens up after Penguins squander yet another multi-goal lead

After the game, emotions were clear even before words were spoken. Defenseman Erik Karlsson did not hide his disappointment, calling the collapse unacceptable. His reaction echoed what many inside the room were feeling. The Penguins are not short on talent or experience.

What they lack right now is the ability to finish.Captain Sidney Crosby addressed the issue head-on when asked why these breakdowns keep happening and how the team plans to stop them. He did not point fingers or search for excuses. Instead, he offered a blunt assessment of missed opportunities.

"We've done enough to win games and just haven't closed it out. We just need some plays that are going to do that. Those can be a lot of different things.

But we got to get through a game here where we have a lead and close it out."Crosby’s words may not deliver a neat solution, but they reveal an important truth. The Penguins are not stuck repeating the same mistake. Each collapse has come from a different breakdown, whether it is lost coverage, slow decisions, or a failure to manage the puck under pressure. That inconsistency makes the problem harder to fix, but it also suggests the team is not broken beyond repair.Still, time is not on their side. With this loss, Pittsburgh sits uncomfortably close to sliding out of a playoff spot as rivals close the gap. The margin for error is shrinking fast.Their next chance to respond comes Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, a matchup already charged with emotion after a recent blockbuster trade between the two teams. For the Penguins, it is more than just another game. It is an opportunity to prove they can protect a lead, finish a night strong, and restore belief before this troubling stretch defines their season.Also Read: “Desperate move”: Ex-NHL coach slams Oilers’ Tristan Jarry trade as playoff pressure intensifies in Edmonton