PITTSBURGH — It has been a month of firsts for Sidney Crosby.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie center played in his first NHL game, tallied his first assist, celebrated his first goal and got his first penalty. He was even held scoreless for the first time during Thursday night's game.

But one thing the No. 1 overall pick has not yet experienced is his first NHL victory.

"No, I didn't think it would take this long," Crosby said. "You want to win your first game, but you have to try not to think about it. You have to concentrate on playing 60 minutes, and if we do that, winning will take care of itself."

That has not happened through the Penguins' first seven games. Pittsburgh (0-3-4) is off to its worst start ever and is the only team in the league yet to win.

"Losing affects everybody," winger John LeClair said. "But you can't do anything about that now. We need to get that first win and get come confidence in the team, get some points."

The blame be can shared throughout the roster. Not one of the team's regulars has been a plus player.

LeClair and Ryan Malone — who are on a line with Mario Lemieux — have combined for six points. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar — brought in as an expensive free agent because of his offensive production — has one point. None of the goaltenders has a goals-against average below the 3.60 of third-stringer Sebastien Caron.

Lemieux, also the team's owner, insinuated after the 6-3 loss to New Jersey Thursday that he is not pleased with the effort and performance of his teammates.

While Lemieux made no outright threats that changes were on the way, the message seemed to have resonated with players.

"If these 23 guys can't get it done, they'll bring in some guys who can," said Malone, who has only two goals after being the team's leading goal-scorer the last season played. "We are lucky and privileged to be in this league. A lot of other hockey players would love to have our jobs."

Coach Eddie Olczyk praised the team's effort late in games in frenzied — sometimes successful — attempts to tie. But he was not pleased with the lackadaisical play early in games that led to many of those deficits.

Olczyk denied that any personnel changes through trades or promotions from the club's minor-league affiliate were imminent, but said lineup changes were in store for Saturday's game in Boston.

The Penguins are not new to long losing streaks. During the last season played, Pittsburgh lost 18 straight. But the team immediately followed with the second-best 20-game stretch to finish a season in its history (12-5-3).

"That was a totally different team under different circumstances," Olczyk said. "But I know that — just like (2003-04) — once we get that feel of a win and taste of a win, we'll regain some of the confidence we've lost."