from Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

The Penguins are 8-12-4 since Christmas with a minus-22 goal differential. Their current losing streak is their third of four or more games. That has happened only one other time during the Mike Sullivan era, four years ago in 2018-19.

Even so, he believes they can as currently constructed still make the playoffs.

“The hardest part about our team right now is probably the volatility,” Hextall said. “It’s a tough one, quite frankly, to put a finger on. ... Some nights you ask yourself, ‘What team are we?’ But I know this: We’ve shown that we’re capable of being a very good team and we’ll continue to try to make our team better.”

Hextall knows fans are frustrated. He heard them loud and clear Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, when “Fire Hextall!” chants erupted in a loss to Edmonton.

“We have high expectations, as well, and we haven’t met them. So I totally get it,” Hextall said calmly. “When you’re a GM, you know what you’re signing up for. We work in the public eye. And they pay good money to come to the rink, and they certainly have the right to chant and say whatever they choose.”

Hextall added, “It’s not going to affect anything I do or anything I don’t do.”

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