The Pittsburgh Penguins headed into 2024 by taking 11 out of their last 12 standings points with points in all of their six most recent games. They are 7-1-1 in their last nine. It was a necessary run of success for them to have a chance at the postseason. They sit three points back of the Flyers for third in the division and a single point away from Tampa Bay who currently holds the second wild card slot. Tampa also has three more games played. The Penguins remain in striking distance, which is no small feat considering how the season has gone.
To this point they’ve done it on the backs of Sidney Crosby and the goaltending. Lately, we have some bottom six contributions which have pushed the team over the top.
In the last 4 games, bottom 6 forwards have scored 8 goals for the Pens: Eller (3), Carter, Acciari, Puustinen, Zohorna, O'Connor.
— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) January 1, 2024
Being top heavy is a tough existence. Things get a lot easier when you get offensive contributions from the depth players. Combine it with solid goaltending and you have the recipe to rack up some standings point. Over the course of a long season you need to have games where the three stars look like the following.
Three stars = three Penguins pic.twitter.com/AOyPKJOuR5
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 1, 2024
Nedeljkovic is up to a .924 save percentage on the season and has given the Penguins everything and then some this year. It has reshaped how the season has gone versus how it could have if they got league average, or even worse, below average goaltending from the backup position. His play allows Mike Sullivan to manage Tristan Jarry better where in previous years they ran him right into the ground. They had no choice. Now they do. And now they have two goalies in the top 17
Top goalies going into 2024 https://t.co/RtBkDPbkvW pic.twitter.com/yRSynaCGsj
— MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) January 1, 2024
The Penguins are currently at 82% in playoff probability after the recent stretch of action.
They will have another divisional game tomorrow against the Washington Capitals whose record has outperformed their actual performance. It is a great oppotunity to pick up another two points.
Thanks for reading!