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Penguins inching closer to the playoffs |
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It wasn’t their best performance and they leaned into their goaltender holding things down, but the Pittsburgh Penguins worked hard and looked like they cared and were able to get out of Washington with a pretty big victory over the Capitals.
With the victory the Penguins push up to a 20% chance of making the playoffs and the Capitals drop to 36.3% with the Islanders also hovering in that area at 36.8% per Moneypuck. Believe it or not the Penguins are the hottest team in hockey. They’ve earned 12 out of their last 14 standings points.
Sidney Crosby has been playing a superb brand of hockey during this stretch. He isn’t the only one. Alex Nedeljkovic has started all seven of these games and had yet another strong outing last night. The Penguins scored on their first two shots and the score effects from that didn’t take long to show their face. The Capitals were buzzing in the Penguins zone for stretches of time. Nedeljkovic fought through numerous screens and attempted tips to keep things where the Penguins needed them to be. He stopped 30 out of 31 shots in the much needed victory. On performance it makes sense to keep starting him. The seven games in a row is a career high. Does he need rest? Can the team afford to give it to him?
Last night the Penguins got some offensive support from down the lineup. Ryan Shea scored his first career NHL goal and PO Joseph added another one early on. Those were the Penguins first two shots on goal in the game and caused the Capitals to chase the game. Newcomer Michael Bunting ripped a slap shot home and gave the Penguins a comfortable 3-0 lead. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin registered zero points. It isn’t common for the Penguins to win with both of them held off the scoresheet. In fact, it is only the third time ever
The Capitals lone goal came at the very tail end of a 5v3 for the Capitals. Alexander Ovechkin was able to slam home the puck from in close on the post. It was an unfortunate result, but the penalty killing was superb on the extended 5v3. It was one of the better jobs I’ve seen a unit do in recent memory. They generated as much offense as the Capitals did and they also won a lot of battles to clear the puck. It was an excellent job.
On the other side of special teams the Penguins had a power play late to ice the game away and I thought did a much better job with their breakouts. They had at least three successful breakouts which hasn’t been the norm this year. It has been an area of weakness throughout the season. While they didn’t score on the power play they also never looked like they were going to give up a shorthanded goal which has been something that has plagued them the entire year. If they can sustain breaking the puck into the zone clean they might even start scoring some goals with the man advantage.
There will be some scoreboard watching to be had tonight. The Sabres are hosting the Flyers, the Hurricanes are hosting the Capitals, and the Red Wings are hosting the Rangers. Getting a Sabres, Hurricanes, and Rangers win in regulation would be the most ideal outcome for the Penguins.
Playoffs might be back on the menu. Back at it Saturday.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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