A perfectly timed win for the Pittsburgh Penguins puts them firmly back into the wild card race.
A perfectly timed win for the Pittsburgh Penguins puts them firmly back into the wild card race.
PITTSBURGH - What a difference a couple of days can make for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as key losses and a big win gave a big push to their playoff chances.
Not only did the Penguins come up with an important victory over the Washington Capitals, but the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers lost in regulation.
With only two wild card spots open in the Eastern Conference, it’s going to be a three team race in the final couple of weeks.
For the Penguins, the timing of their win and the Islanders’ and Panthers’ losses pushes them back atop the playoff odds race.
According to moneypuck.com, the Penguins has an 82.6% chance of making the postseason, almost 40 percentage points higher than where they sat on Wednesday.
The Islanders hold the first wild card spot, but the extra game played is a disadvantage to their playoff odds which sit at 79.3%.
Meanwhile, the once red-hot Panthers have hit a three-game losing streak and are watching their shot at the playoffs slip away.
Money Puck gives the Panthers a 30.8% chance to reach the playoffs, a 43-point drop from Wednesday.
The Penguins and Panthers have eight games remaining in the regular season, but the Penguins gave themselves a three-point advantage with their most recent win.
It’s still a close race and every game will be vital to the Penguins push for the playoffs and their 17th consecutive postseason appearance.
The Buffalo Sabres (6%), Ottawa Senators (.8%), and Capitals (.7%) are just about out of the race with time winding down on the season.
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