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Pittsburgh Penguins' soft schedule gives them a real playoff edge despite tough week
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Tankathon ranks the Pittsburgh Penguins 19th in remaining schedule strength, and that softer finish may save their playoff spot.
Pittsburgh sits at 35-20-16 through 71 games, good for 86 points and third in the Metropolitan on March 25.
That is the story, not panic after one bad night. It is schedule math with real teeth.
The hard part lands first. Ottawa visits on March 26, then Dallas comes in on March 28.
Those are not throwaway games. Ottawa is one point back, and Dallas is sitting near the top of the West.
You can see the squeeze in the post below, rival teams stacked near the top while Pittsburgh sits down at 19.
That gap matters because the Penguins do not need a perfect week. They need to stay within reach.
After that, the board opens. Pittsburgh gets the New York Islanders on March 30 and Detroit on March 31, both direct blows in the wild-card fight.
Sidney Crosby drives Pittsburgh Penguins control
Fans can feel the trap here, one ugly week could look fatal when it really is just the loudest part of the run.
Sidney Crosby has 28-36-64, and the Penguins still go as his line goes. Erik Karlsson's 43 assists keep the puck moving, but the club still needs cleaner support above it.
That is the fit question. When Pittsburgh manages the middle of the ice, its blue line survives and the rush game shows up.
This is why the softer finish matters. It gives an older core a chance to attack the right games instead of chasing every mistake.
The Penguins might slip for a few days. The schedule says they still own a clean path back in.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Sidney Crosby calling it out confirms Penguins' defensive breakdown is real
Sidney Crosby calling it out confirms Penguins' defensive breakdown is real
| POLL | ||
MARS 25|54 ANSWERS Pittsburgh Penguins' soft schedule gives them a real playoff edge despite tough week Will the Penguins still hold a playoff spot after this four-game swing? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 68.5 % |
| No | 17 | 31.5 % |
| List of polls | ||