Coach Mike Sullivan returns to the Pittsburgh Penguins (Image via Getty Images) The Pittsburgh Penguins are all set to start a their perfect season as they host Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. The game will be special as the head coach of the Rangers is returning to Pittsburgh for the first time since leaving the Penguins. Sullivan is regarded as one of the most prominent and decorated head coaches of all time, as under his instructions, the Penguins won two Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017, and fans are expected to give him a big cheer when he’s honored during the game.
Mike Sullivan returns to Pittsburgh after taking charge as head coach with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time after taking charge as head coach of the New York Rangers. As per reports, Sullivan will return to the PPG Paints Arena for the first time since becoming the head coach of the Rangers during the offseason. He joined the Penguins at the right time, when the team needed him the most.“So grateful for the opportunity that I had here to coach the Penguins for the amount of time that I was able to do it,” Sullivan said on Saturday from the home team’s facilities. “We had a lot of good memories and I’m grateful for that.” It is to be noted that Saturday’s game between the Penguins and Rangers will be Sullivan’s first venture as a visitor in Pittsburgh after he left the Penguins on April 28 after signing a “mutual parting.”According to reports, Arturs Silovs will be the goalie for the Penguins after shutting the Rangers out on Tuesday, 3-0. He made the saves he needed to make and was a calm presence in the net throughout the game. This will be his second start of the season after Tristan Jarry started against the New York Islanders on Thursday. Meanwhile, Justin Brazeau also scored two goals in Tuesday’s game, including the game-winner, before Blake Lizotte added one at the end of the third period.
Revisiting Mike Sullivan’s role as coach in the NHL
Mike Sullivan is a seasoned hockey coach with over 23 years of experience in both the NHL and AHL. As of May 2025, he’s proudly serving as the head coach for the New York Rangers. Sullivan is perhaps best known for his remarkable achievement of leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cup victories.His coaching journey began with the Boston Bruins, where he served as head coach from 2002 to 2005. After that, he took charge of the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2007 to 2009, followed by a stint with the New York Rangers from 2009 to 2013, and then the Vancouver Canucks for the 2013-2014 season.In 2014, he was a development coach with the Chicago Blackhawks before joining as a head coach for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the AHL in 2015. He then returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he coached from 2016 until 2025.Also read: NHL player injury update: Buffalo Sabres’ Josh Norris sidelined from team after suffering serious injuries | NHL News – The Times of India