The Pittsburgh Penguins return home to take on a talented Dallas Stars team.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 2-3-0 through their first five games, stumbling through inconsistencies in every aspect of their game. With struggles testing the Penguins already this season, the team is looking to quickly course correct before it's too late.

Up next is an opportunity to get back on track against a Stanley Cup contending team. Here's what to watch for when the Penguins battle the Dallas Stars.

1. Geno Is Score

Penguins' center Evgeni Malkin is on a torrid pace to begin the season. With goals in four straight games, the Russian superstar has eight points already through the team's first five games. The hot start is the third best offensive start to a season in Malkin's storied career.

While the team continues to struggle, Geno is leading the charge and pitching in at an elite level. He needs to help get winger Rickard Rakell going, but his line produces regardless. The Dallas Stars will be the toughest challenge so far for Malkin and company, and it will be interesting to see how Geno rises to the occasion.

2. Karlsson and Pettersson Forming Top Pairing

The Penguins have a group of incredibly talented defenders making up their top four defensemen. While Kris Letang and Ryan Graves are still in the feeling out process of their partnership, it seems Erik Karlsson and Marcus Pettersson are forming a potent pairing.

What stands out about their pairing is how well they complement one another. Pettersson's steady prevent defense is the perfect safety blanket for Karlsson, giving him the freedom to make plays all over the ice. They read each other extremely well and their chemistry on the ice is palpable. The pair will get another chance to have a big game against the high-powered Stars.

3. Penalty Killing Perfection

Not only are the Stars an extremely loaded offensive team, their defense is just as impressive. More specifically, their special teams defense is tops in the league. Last season, the penalty killing finished third in the league, killing just over 85% of the penalties against them. This season, the Stars have picked up right where they left off last season. The team has yet to give up a power play goal, killing all 12 penalties against them so far. 

The penalty killing unit features some of the strongest defensive players in the league, like Radek Faksa and Jani Hakanpaa. With the Penguins' power play struggling to generate chances, they'll face an even greater challenge against the Dallas penalty kill. 

The Penguins and Stars face-off at 7:30 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena. 

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