The Penguins got back into the win column after a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders. It leaves the Penguins with only six games left in the regular season. After the Capitals blowout loss it Leafs them five points behind the Penguins with two games in hand. For now the Penguins remain on track to play the New York Rangers.
The game was a nice bounce back for the Penguins who have been dealing with a bug running through the team. It also marks the 16th consecutive season for the Penguins making the playoffs. The longest current streak among North American teams. It is very impressive and speaks volumes about both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
The last season time the #StanleyCup Playoffs happened and the @penguins weren’t involved (June of 2006)?
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) April 15, 2022
-Twitter wasn't available to the public
-Hips Don't Lie by Shakira was the #1 song in the U.S.
-Disney’s Cars was the top grossing movie in the U.S.
-John Marino was 9
When you see stuff like this it really makes you wonder about those people who would rather move on from Malkin and Kris Letang and start a rebuild process with no guarantees. Just push the chips in and ride this thing out. This isn't likely to ever happen again for the team. A full rebuild with no promise of success will always be waiting around the corner. Let this thing play out whether they have contender status or if they are a nostalgia act. I’m not ready for the discourse surrounding some 2nd round pick from the Q having a point per game being the guy who might be the key to the rebuild.
Jake Guentzel had himself a night. Not only did he finish with two goals and two assists he earned a burger and a milkshake for everyone. He is now up to 78 points which is now a career high. He sits on 37 goals which is in striking distance of his career high of 40 with six games remaining. He has a great chance to pull it off due to his new line configuration. The sample size is only 33 minutes so far, but the trio of Crosby, Guentzel, and Rakell is doing some work. Overall, they have a CF% of 62.82 and an xGF% of 71.53. This is a really nice development. Rakell being added to the team is doing exactly what it should. Gives the Penguins another top six winger which spreads the talent between Crosby and Malkin. Bryan Rust is really good with 87 or 71. It looks like he will be with 71 and that is just fine.
It’s weird seeing Zdeno Chara back with the Islanders again. Until last night he hadn’t scored this year. Until last night he hadn’t scored for the Islanders since... January 12, 2001, also against the Penguins.
Some not so great news to pass along Islanders related
The New York Islanders are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the greatest pure goal scorer, four-time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Fame member, Mike Bossy. https://t.co/hbyozJ4BUS
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 15, 2022
Bossy is one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time.
Mike Bossy played 10 seasons in the NHL.
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) April 15, 2022
He scored 50 goals in nine of them, and 60 in five.
In the only season he didn’t score 50, he was kept to 63 games and, while playing through crippling back pain on a bum knee he’d had since he was a kid, still paced for 50.
Legend.
RIP to a great ambassador of hockey.
Thanks for reading!