Pens drop back-to-back games in regulation for the 1st time in forever

The Pittsburgh Penguins are officially in a slump.

A 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday means Mike Sullivan's crew has dropped back-to-back games in regulation for the first time since losing four straight from Dec. 14 through Dec. 19, 2015.

Those were, in fact, the first four games of Mike Sullivan's tenure as head coach. And the Penguins probably laughed about them during one of their many Stanley Cup parties over the summer.

The Penguins went into the new year on a four-game win streak, their bye week beginning on Jan. 1. They were back in action on Sunday, a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay, but lost 5-2 to Washington on Wednesday before Thursday's defeat.

Mike Condon was strong for Ottawa, making 29 saves on 30 shots. Matt Murray made his first start for Pittsburgh since Dec. 20, and made 29 stops on 33 shots.