Which NHL team is based in the city of Pittsburgh?

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Which NHL team is based in the city of Pittsburgh? The Pittsburgh Penguins are based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Penguins joined the NHL in 1967 as part of the league’s expansion from the Original Six era. They play their home games at PPG Paints Arena, located in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood. The franchise is one of the city’s major professional sports teams, alongside the Steelers of the NFL and the Pirates of MLB.

Pittsburgh became a hockey powerhouse after drafting Mario Lemieux first overall in 1984. Lemieux helped rescue the financially troubled franchise and led the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992. Later stars such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang powered additional titles in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

The main mix-up is with Pittsburgh’s other teams. The Steelers play football, the Pirates play baseball, and the Riverhounds play soccer. Only the Penguins represent Pittsburgh in the NHL. Their nickname comes from the penguin featured in the club’s original logo.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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