Penguins Playoff Hopes Increase Despite Loss
The Pittsburgh Penguins still have a fighting chance to reach the postseason even after another tough loss.
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins entered March with some pretty long odds to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With under 10 games to play in the regular season, the Penguins will enter April with even longer odds.
No matter how many losses piled up for the Penguins, they never lost hope that they could still make a miracle run to the playoffs. After a shootout defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Penguins haven’t seen their odds hit zero, but they aren’t moving.
According to moneypuck.com, the Penguins have a 3.8% chance of reaching the playoffs. With a 32-30-11 record and 75 standings points, they are seven points behind the Philadelphia Flyers, who hold the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Washington Capitals took over third place in the Metropolitan Division and will likely make their way back to the postseason after missing last year with the Penguins. Money Puck gives the Capitals a 73.8% chance.
The Penguins have seen their number go up, but only slightly, and they still have to work their way through a race for the wild card spots that no one wants to win.
The Detroit Red Wings are still floating around with a 27.8% chance and two points out of the second wild card. The New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders then file in with 9.4% and 9.2% respectively.
Teams across the NHL have started clinching playoff berths while others are officially being mathematically eliminated. So far in the Eastern Conference, only the Blue Jackets have been eliminated from contention.
The Penguins aren’t officially out of the running yet, meaning they are still gunning for that improbable run.
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