PITTSBURGH – As recently as a week ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes seemed dashed entirely. They were coming off a tough loss on an unforgettable night for the franchise, and things looked bleak with no Jake Guentzel.
Since losing to the Los Angeles Kings, the Penguins have notched standings points in three straight games, including a massive win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins are still seven points behind the Flyers, but with four games in hand, they have a good chance of catching them.
According to former player turned TSN analyst Frank Corrado, the Penguins have the best chances to reach the postseason out of any team fighting just outside the Eastern Conference wild card.
“The Pens, for me right now, might have the best chance out of all those teams,” Corrado said.
Corrado opened up his reasoning by looking at other teams in the fight and noting their fatal flaws. The New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders are all hovering around the Penguins position.
“Something about the Devils doesn’t seem right,” Corrado said. “The Islanders haven’t had that sustained new coach bump. It’s a weird time for some teams that you expected a little more from.”
The Devils haven’t gotten great work from their goaltending and defense, giving them a 4-5-1 record in their last 10 games. Patrick Roy has been behind the Islanders’ bench for 12 games and has a 4-5-3 record in that time.
The Capitals are in a weird spot as no one expected much from them, and when Alex Ovechkin couldn’t find the back of the net, things appeared to be slipping away. Ovechkin has since scored eight goals in his last 10 games with the Capitals going 4-3-3 in that time.
There were also meager expectations for the Flyers heading into the year, but they hold the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. That might be the more appealing target for all the teams in the dogfight for the playoffs.
As for the Penguins, the numbers may soon lean in their favor if they put together a successful Western road trip.
“They’re the only non-playoff team that has a plus goal differential in the NHL,” Corrado said. “That’s a team that things are going to correct themselves offensively and they should be able to make a push for the playoffs.”
The Penguins’ season isn’t over quite yet. They may not become buyers by the deadline, and Jake Guentzel may still be on his way out, but they still have a chance in the postseason.
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