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The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the playoffs.
Brandon Sutter scored twice while Marc-Andre Fleury shutout the last place team in hockey. The game was closer than it needed to be. The standings were closer than they needed to be.
Pittsburgh will now face off against the New York Rangers in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the Rangers who ended the Penguins season in round two last year.
Now that the Penguins are in the playoffs the days of playing with only five defensemen are over. This was a huge issue down the stretch and now they can field an appropriate roster.
The good news for the Penguins back end is that the series does not start until Thursday night at MSG. They will have some much needed time to rest.
1st round: 4/16 at NYR, 7 4/18 at NYR, 8 4/20 vs. NYR, 7 4/22 vs. NYR, 7 4/24 at NYR, TBD 4/26 vs. NYR, TBD 4/28 at NYR, TBD
— Jason Mackey (@Mackey_Trib) April 12, 2015
The Rangers won the President's Trophy as the league's top regular season team but they are not firing on all cylinders heading into the playoffs.
I will have much more in detail on the Penguins/Rangers series in the days to come.
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Sidney Crosby did not register a point against the Buffalo Sabres, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.
Even though the effort was there the tangible rewards were not for Sid.
It's the first time since April 3, 2007 the Sabres have held Sidney Crosby without a point.
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) April 12, 2015
No points meant no Art Ross Trophy for Sidney Crosby. It was Jamie Benn who had four points (including two in the last minute) that snatched up the award from the grasp of John Tavares. Benn finished the season with 15 points in the last six games to take the title, impressive stuff.
Craig Adams dressed last night due the team only having five defensemen he did not see the ice once. Given the fact that the Penguins are now free to call up help from WB/S we may have already seen the final chapter in Craig Adams' Pittsburgh Penguins career.
Thanks for reading!