Penguins Believe Postseason is Still Alive

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins recently returned home from a brutal four-game road trip that put a dark shadow over their season. After winning the first game, the Penguins followed that with three straight losses that have all but sealed their fate as sellers at the trade deadline.

While the Penguins’ front office searches the league for takers on most of the lineup, the surviving players aren’t letting their playoff hopes die yet. A win over Metropolitan Division rival Columbus Blue Jackets was a step in the right direction, and there is belief it’s not too little too late.

“We’re not going to give up until we’re very, very mathematically out,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “We got to keep scratching and clawing, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Before the puck was dropped against the Blue Jackets, the Penguins held a 27-24-8 record and were 10 points out of a playoff spot. Moneypuck.com gave them an 18.2% chance of making the postseason.

A return to the win column boosted that number, but only slightly to 20.2%. The Penguins still have a ton of ground to make up.

“In here, we want to win every game,” Pettersson said. “We’re competitive people.”

Fellow blueliner Kris Letang was slightly more blunt before the contest, noting that the Penguins' current position doesn't have them feeling great.

"This is awful, to be honest,” Letang said. “It was our job from the beginning of the year to put ourselves in a good spot & we didn't. Now we are here today & have to deal with this.”

The Penguins are taking their season one game at a time and doing everything they can to keep fighting. Until their chances hit zero and they are mathematically eliminated, you can count on the players in the room to still shoot for a chance to play playoff hockey.