Penguins Never Lost Hope in Playoff Push
Even when things were at their lowest, the Pittsburgh Penguins always believed they had a chance at the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH – There are four games remaining in the Pittsburgh Penguins 2023-24 season, and they are well within the hunt for playoff hockey. The fact that the Penguins are so close to a playoff berth is shocking, considering their mediocre season.
It wasn’t long ago that the Penguins were close to calling it a season and looking forward to the NHL Draft Lottery. With points in nine straight games, the Penguins have pulled their playoff odds out of the cellar.
Even when the Penguins seemed down and out, and everyone was betting against them, the players never lost hope.
“Guys in this locker room believe,” Bryan Rust said. “They believe we have a chance to do something special.”
Rust isn’t wrong to say that the Penguins believe. Any time they were asked about their standing, even at their lowest points, they said they would keep fighting. No matter how far away the playoffs felt, they weren’t throwing in the towel until they were mathematically eliminated from contention.
Now, sitting on the doorstep of the playoffs, the Penguins have more hope than ever.
“For the last two to three weeks, we’ve been right in it,” Sidney Crosby said. “It’s brought out the best in us. We’re playing good hockey. We believe in our game.”
Crosby has been among the top producers for the Penguins during this magical run. While the Penguins have gone 6-0-3 in their last nine games, Crosby has put up 17 points (7G-10A) in that span.
With the Penguins are down to their final games, they will need to be near-perfect to reach the playoffs. A little outside help would also go a long way, but their biggest test is right around the corner.
Three of their final four games come at home, with the first coming against the Detroit Red Wings, a team they are right next to in the race.
“It’s been fun playing these games,” Drew O’Connor said. “We have four more. The next one in front of us is obviously huge.”
Before anyone can worry about scoreboard watching or look ahead to the final games of the season, the Penguins need to have a big game against the Red Wings. While this game won’t ultimately decide either squad’s playoff fate, it will have a massive impact on the outcome.
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