I see what Ryan and a lot of others are saying and I agree. The Penguins are playing good hockey right now. Their numbers like possession and shots indicate that. The eye test also shows that. I thought they played pretty well yesterday. And I think in the long run, this trend of playing well and losing would be corrected into winning more games.

However, when you're talking short term and a game-by-game basis, these kinds of things go out the door to an extent. You need to find ways to win these games down the stretch. It's like what Yohe said on Twitter, you can hold the puck 80% of the game. However, if that other team manages to score more than you in that 20% than you do in that 80%, that's a serious problem.

Penguins need to keep playing the way they are and I think the wins will come. And if we're being honest, I think I'd rather play Montreal or TB than the Rangers or Islanders.
- SuperHenderson13

The Pens are going to get in (I actually think Boston is in more danger of missing out), and I agree that Wild Card opposite Montreal or Tampa is the spot you want (hell, that's the spot I wanted for the Caps, though I'm ok if they play the Isles in a 2/3). The problem is that if you fall to the 2nd Wild Card, you get the Rangers, the one team that I think everyone would like to avoid.

The Pens are going to get in (I actually think Boston is in more danger of missing out), and I agree that Wild Card opposite Montreal or Tampa is the spot you want (hell, that's the spot I wanted for the Caps, though I'm ok if they play the Isles in a 2/3). The problem is that if you fall to the 2nd Wild Card, you get the Rangers, the one team that I think everyone would like to avoid.
- MadCap2008

It's crazy how wide open the East (and even the West) is. The Rangers are the odds-on favorite to win the East, but I could see them getting upset by any of the Pens/Bruins/Wings. I wouldn't even be surprised to see the Islanders or Capitals make a run to the SCF, and I think both Montreal (if Max isn't out long-term) and TB are legit as well.

It's crazy how wide open the East (and even the West) is. The Rangers are the odds-on favorite to win the East, but I could see them getting upset by any of the Pens/Bruins/Wings. I wouldn't even be surprised to see the Islanders or Capitals make a run to the SCF, and I think both Montreal (if Max isn't out long-term) and TB are legit as well.
- jmatchett383

It is pretty wide open - I'd love to see the Rangers have to play Boston or Detroit in the 1st round, I'd give both a solid chance to pull it off. An upset there would really make this a crap shoot. I don't like the chances for the winner of Caps/Isles against the Rangers in the 2nd round.

It is pretty wide open - I'd love to see the Rangers have to play Boston or Detroit in the 1st round, I'd give both a solid chance to pull it off. An upset there would really make this a crap shoot. I don't like the chances for the winner of Caps/Isles against the Rangers in the 2nd round.
- MadCap2008

Isles/Rags would be a bloodbath. But I don't see the Caps winning that.
But, like you said, there's no reason the Rags can't go out in Round 1.

playoffs might not start at all for the pens

Luckily the pens have the Sabres for their last game. Sabres will be in full tank mode for that game

Luckily the pens have the Sabres for their last game. Sabres will be in full tank mode for that game
- drummer829

I think the Sabres will have last place locked up. This will be their Stanley Cup Final. That said, I still don't see Buffalo winning, especially if it's a do-or-die for Pittsburgh.

I think the Sabres will have last place locked up. This will be their Stanley Cup Final. That said, I still don't see Buffalo winning, especially if it's a do-or-die for Pittsburgh.
- jmatchett383

Or they could just be really not giving a damn and thinking about their VERY soon to be long vacation.

Or they could just be really not giving a damn and thinking about their VERY soon to be long vacation.
- Guile

Possibly.

Possibly.
- jmatchett383

Well, I know I am not an NHL player... but if my team was in last place with it locked up no matter the final game's result, and next season was looking a WHOLE lot better than the prior ones (not even including the draft pick), I would be coasting and not wanting to risk ANY injury against the Pens.

Luckily the pens have the Sabres for their last game. Sabres will be in full tank mode for that game
- drummer829

I think if the Sabres lose tonight they lock up last place overall. Tank mode may no longer be needed

Well, I know I am not an NHL player... but if my team was in last place with it locked up no matter the final game's result, and next season was looking a WHOLE lot better than the prior ones (not even including the draft pick), I would be coasting and not wanting to risk ANY injury against the Pens.
- Guile

Many in the lineup the Sabres have on the ice aren't either.

Well, I know I am not an NHL player... but if my team was in last place with it locked up no matter the final game's result, and next season was looking a WHOLE lot better than the prior ones (not even including the draft pick), I would be coasting and not wanting to risk ANY injury against the Pens.
- Guile

Most NHL players have a lot of pride in their game, especially for a last-place team. If my team had been kicked around all season, I'd want to go out with a bang against the mighty Penguins. I don't know that I'd run recklessly into a corner with a guy bearing down on either side of me, but I wouldn't exactly roll over and die either. Remember, the players aren't the ones who tries to lose, that was management. The players want to win.

I think if the Sabres lose tonight they lock up last place overall. Tank mode may no longer be needed
- willi

That and the fact that New York could have the conference locked up before they play Ottawa are two very possible scenarios that concern me greatly. On paper Ottawa having to play the Rangers and the Pens having a game against Buffalo make things look optimistic, but things could turn in a hurry if New York no longer has anything to gain by winning and Bufflao has nothing to gain by losing.

Most NHL players have a lot of pride in their game, especially for a last-place team. If my team had been kicked around all season, I'd want to go out with a bang against the mighty Penguins. I don't know that I'd run recklessly into a corner with a guy bearing down on either side of me, but I wouldn't exactly roll over and die either. Remember, the players aren't the ones who tries to lose, that was management. The players want to win.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. Buffalo would love to hang their hats on knocking the Pens out as the last thing they do this season. Even management would love it as long as it didn't impact their last place finish.

Most NHL players have a lot of pride in their game, especially for a last-place team. If my team had been kicked around all season, I'd want to go out with a bang against the mighty Penguins. I don't know that I'd run recklessly into a corner with a guy bearing down on either side of me, but I wouldn't exactly roll over and die either. Remember, the players aren't the ones who tries to lose, that was management. The players want to win.
- jmatchett383

It's also their job. Some guys are fighting to stay in the NHL, others are working towards their next contract.

Well, I know I am not an NHL player... but if my team was in last place with it locked up no matter the final game's result, and next season was looking a WHOLE lot better than the prior ones (not even including the draft pick), I would be coasting and not wanting to risk ANY injury against the Pens.
- Guile

there's a number of sabres who likely won't be back for next year who will be playing for jobs. I wouldn't expect the players to coast, the gm might want them to, but the players will be playing to stay in the nhl next year.

The Pens are going to get in (I actually think Boston is in more danger of missing out), and I agree that Wild Card opposite Montreal or Tampa is the spot you want (hell, that's the spot I wanted for the Caps, though I'm ok if they play the Isles in a 2/3). The problem is that if you fall to the 2nd Wild Card, you get the Rangers, the one team that I think everyone would like to avoid.
- MadCap2008

yep. thats why im not freaking out of anything.

it's funny, when was the last time the spot on favorite in the East actually made it all the way?

2010- Penguins probably were, look what happened.
2011- Philly made it and I know they werent the favorite
2012- Devils werent the favorite
2013- Penguins were, got swept by Boston
2014- Rangers werent that I remember, if they were it wasnt a big gap

so i think if the penguins can slide in as a wild card versus TB, they have a shot to do something. if letang and ehrhoff dont come back, it's a moot point because we need those guys.

you guys would probably beat the islanders with how poor they are playing lately like us.

I think if the Sabres lose tonight they lock up last place overall. Tank mode may no longer be needed
- willi

If the Sabres clinch last place, I'd expect them to do everything they can to knock out the pens of they had the chance

The Pens are going to get in (I actually think Boston is in more danger of missing out), and I agree that Wild Card opposite Montreal or Tampa is the spot you want (hell, that's the spot I wanted for the Caps, though I'm ok if they play the Isles in a 2/3). The problem is that if you fall to the 2nd Wild Card, you get the Rangers, the one team that I think everyone would like to avoid.
- MadCap2008

Not me. Rangers are playing unreal but id much rather play them or the pens in the first round. Caps are one of the teams I didnt want to meet in the first. Montreal is the other one. You guys out physical us for whatever reason and we don't match up well against the Habs. Fehr murders us every time we play you. We play well against lundqvist always have. Much better match up with the rangers and it'd be a helluva series.

It is pretty wide open - I'd love to see the Rangers have to play Boston or Detroit in the 1st round, I'd give both a solid chance to pull it off. An upset there would really make this a crap shoot. I don't like the chances for the winner of Caps/Isles against the Rangers in the 2nd round.
- MadCap2008

Id love to play the rangers in the second round.

yep. thats why im not freaking out of anything.

it's funny, when was the last time the spot on favorite in the East actually made it all the way?

2010- Penguins probably were, look what happened.
2011- Philly made it and I know they werent the favorite
2012- Devils werent the favorite
2013- Penguins were, got swept by Boston
2014- Rangers werent that I remember, if they were it wasnt a big gap

so i think if the penguins can slide in as a wild card versus TB, they have a shot to do something. if letang and ehrhoff dont come back, it's a moot point because we need those guys.

you guys would probably beat the islanders with how poor they are playing lately like us.
- SuperHenderson13

Agreed, but Flyers went to the Finals in 2010, Boston won it in 2011. Too lazy to look up the seedings. And the year the Flyers made it, quite a few did peg them as the team to beat in the EC.

heard this on trib radio this morning...might be the imporant advanced statistic for the Pens..TMITT

http://www.mangameslost.c...mitt-metric-april-4-2015/

heard this on trib radio this morning...might be the imporant advanced statistic for the Pens..TMITT

http://www.mangameslost.c...mitt-metric-april-4-2015/
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Ryan did that as a blog just a week or so ago man

heard this on trib radio this morning...might be the imporant advanced statistic for the Pens..TMITT

http://www.mangameslost.c...mitt-metric-april-4-2015/
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yeah, Penguins are the only team in the top 10 each of the last 6 years. They are statistical anomaly in their inability to stay healthy.