Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
One crucial factor could decide the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff fate as tough stretch nears
Photo credit: Edit from The New York Times
The Penguins are entering one of the toughest stretches of their schedule this season, and the return of Evgeni Malkin and his remaining health could be crucial.
Christmas has come and gone, and the weeks ahead do not offer a respite for the Penguins. Pittsburgh has the fourth-hardest schedule remaining. This is making for a challenging stretch of games as the calendar approaches January.
The break came at just the right time, given how fast the month of December had unraveled.
What the Penguins did prior to the holiday break
The Penguins had one victory in their final 10 games prior to the stop, finishing 1-5-4 in what became a series of blown leads of multi-goal margins in the third period, not to mention just a general lack of compete from night to night.
The team's head coach, Dan Muse, spoke about needing to reestablish process and structure just a short time ago.
Why Evgeni Malkin's absence directly impacted the team
There is, though, an important variable that may impact how this stretch may play out. Evgeni Malkin has been out since December 4, and that date corresponds well with when Pittsburgh began falling in the standings.
Prior to the holiday break, Malkin had been practicing alone and was starting to get his timing and rhythm back.
With the Penguins facing what could be the most challenging part of their schedule with their current roster, the return and, more significantly, the health of Malkin could be the difference-maker.
If the Penguins hope to right their season and assess their situation properly before the trade deadline in March, having Malkin could be the key.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 26 | 81 ANSWERS One crucial factor could decide the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff fate as tough stretch nears Will the Penguins only go as far as Evgeni Malkin takes them this season? | ||
| Yes | 45 | 55.6 % |
| No | 36 | 44.4 % |
| List of polls | ||