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Penguins jolt all the way into playoff spot after victory over Tampa Bay |
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The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the thick of things and looking to do something no team has done since Sidney Crosby has been in the league.
As of this moment the Penguins are sitting in the second wild card spot making up those nine points in a short amount of time. The other Eastern Conference contenders for the playoffs have been stumbling, which is a necessary piece of this, and the Penguins have been earning standings points on a nightly basis. It has been a perfect storm in what looked like a pretty lifeless end to the season. Here are the latest odds
Yesterday, the Penguins played an overall great game against the Tampa Bay Lightning coming out of the gate hot and with purpose. Things certainly got interesting after another third period blown lead, but they found a way for the two points, something that has plagued them for most of the season. They finished the game with five goals and a 65.22 xGF%. A really solid showing.
Leading the way? Who else? Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang who all scored goals with Malkin scoring twice. It was a statement game for the core players who look ready to make a run at this. The vibes are way different and even if they fall short it won’t be for lack of trying.
Evgeni Malkin has been on a tear lately. He has six goals in his last six games and some might attribute this to his parents being in town. I attribute it to him having a really solid winger on his line. Michael Bunting has done a really nice job with the Penguins and looks to be filling that Chris Kunitz style role. When things were looking like Tampa Bay was going to snatch victory from the Penguins it was Bunting who scored the game winning goal in what was a huge response and potentially a season saver.
In Bunting’s Pittsburgh sample he leads all Penguins forwards with a 56.69 xGF% and now has five goals and 13 points in 16 games with the Penguins. His 5v5 points per 60 is 2.74. He’s been highly effective and has given the Penguins back their second scoring line. It is not a coincidence we are seeing Malkin pick his game up. He finally has a little bit of help. Malkin has 14 points in the 16 games since Bunting has arrived which would be a 71 point pace for an 82 game season. Prior to Malkin was on pace for 60 points.
Another key component in the Penguins making this run is that they have younger legs in the lineup replacing some of their worst veterans. The Penguins do not miss Ryan Graves, Noel Acciari, or Jansen Harkins at all and it would be malpractice to insert them back into the lineup when they are healthy. I really hope they stop with the self-inflicted roster decision mistakes. If this stretch doesn’t prove it, nothing will.
Looking ahead to today’s matchups the Capitals are facing the Senators and a Capitals victory would bump the Penguins back down out of a playoff spot. The Red Wings are playing the Sabres and a Buffalo regulation win would be the ideal result. Detroit can also pass Pittsburgh with a victory. Things are crowded. Teams are going to flop back and forth in and out of these playoff spots. Should be no shortage of drama.
For any of it to matter the Penguins need to keep doing what they are doing. Tomorrow they have the tough task of traveling to Toronto who have no shortage of top end talent. If they come out like they did against Tampa they’ll put themselves in a good spot. Following up the Tampa win with another strong effort would be a great sign for things down the stretch. We’ll see how much juice those 30+ year old legs have.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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