ST. PAUL, Minn. _ A return home didn't make life any easier for the Wild.
It only got worse.
After getting blitzed in three straight games on the road, the Wild were overrun, 7-4, by the Penguins during their home opener Saturday in front of an announced sellout of 19,157 at Xcel Energy Center to sink deeper into a 0-4 funk that continues the worst start in franchise history.
This was the first home opener the Wild dropped in regulation in franchise history after going 14-0-4.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby was dynamic, scoring a goal and assisting on another, while goaltender Matt Murray pocketed 29 saves _ a familiar script for the Wild, which has been stymied by the opposition's stars at each stage of this young season.
What was also similar was how the Wild lost: by taking multiple steps back after finally lunging forward.
Take the second period.
Only 28 seconds after falling into a two-goal hole, the Wild cut that deficit in half on the power play.
Winger Jason Zucker deflected in a Brad Hunt shot through traffic at 3:54, the second goal with the man advantage those two have combined to create.
That unleased a wave of momentum for the Wild, but it was curtailed by a Jordan Greenway hooking penalty.
On the kill, Patric Hornqvist grabbed goalie Devan Dubnyk after a Dubnyk save and that started a melee. Dubnyk punched Hornqvist repeatedly, and both players were dinged for roughing.
Hornqvist received an extra two, with Adam Johnson serving the minor.
And after an abbreviated Wild power play, Johnson _ who's from Hibbing and played at Minnesota-Duluth _ exited the box and buried the rebound off Dubnyk's blocker at 11:11 to reinstate Pittsburgh's two-goal cushion and secure his first career tally.
A quick 1:47 later, Kris Letang lifted a puck top shelf from the right faceoff circle to make it 4-1 before the Penguins tacked on a fifth at 13:39 when Joseph Blandisi one-timed in a pass from Johnson to cap off three Pittsburgh goals in 2:28.
Backup goalie Alex Stalock came on in relief after that. Dubnyk exited with 18 saves.
The Wild retaliated on a shot by defenseman Jared Spurgeon that trickled by Murray at 16:46.
Two-thirds of a new-look fourth line notched assists on the play, including center Victor Rask who was making his season debut after being a healthy scratch for the previous three losses.
But a different lineup and venue produced the same results, with the Wild falling short after a late push in the third.
In the waning minutes, Hunt converted on a one-timer at 15:23 before winger Luke Kunin capitalized only 21 seconds later _ this after Jake Guentzal scored a sixth on the power play at 10:48. Overall, the Penguins went 2 for 4 and the Wild 1 for 2.
The finish by the Wild was improvement after poor execution headlined its start.
Despite regularly gaining the offensive blue line and passing the puck around Pittsburgh's zone, the Wild had trouble getting solid looks on net.
Meanwhile, the Penguins were much more dangerous at the other end.
During their first power play, Hornqvist directed in a feed from Justin Schultz at 14:54 of the first period _ only 28 seconds into their advantage.
That lead doubled 3:26 into the second when Crosby turned in the highlight of the night: a rising backhander over Dubnyk on a breakaway.
