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The tough reason the Penguins’ March schedule has fans worried about the playoff push
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby sees the Pittsburgh Penguins’ March schedule turn into a meat grinder, and the playoff race will not forgive tired legs.
As of Monday, Feb 16, the Penguins sit 29-15-12 and second in the Metropolitan Division.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is what’s waiting right after the Olympics break.
Dave Molinari flagged it first, calling March a “meat grinder” in Part 2 of his schedule series.
Start with the early tests, including Vegas at home on Sunday, Mar 1, then Boston on Tuesday, Mar 3.
That’s still the warm-up.
From Tuesday, Mar 10 through Monday, Mar 30, it’s 11 games in 21 days.
It’s also a travel-heavy run that can drain legs and kill details.
Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh Penguins face March chaos
Penguins fans can feel the dread already, because this is the part of the year where one sloppy week turns into a month.
It opens at Carolina on Mar 10, then jumps to Vegas on Mar 12.
Utah and Colorado follow, with a second Carolina trip mixed in.
The home dates don’t really let you breathe either, with Winnipeg on Mar 21 and Carolina again on Mar 22.
Colorado comes back on Mar 24, then Ottawa on the road on Mar 26.
Dallas closes the home portion on Mar 28 before the Islanders trip on Mar 30.
For Dan Muse’s group, this is about surviving the neutral-zone game and keeping the blue line gaps tight when the legs go.
Between the pipes, the margin shrinks, because tired teams give up second looks.
The standings won’t care if it feels unfair.
Get through that stretch with points, and the runway to April looks a whole lot kinder.
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