The Pittsburgh Penguins will need outside help to increase their chances at the postseason.

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins may be off, but they will have their eyes on multiple games aroun the league in hopes their chances at the postseason can improve.

The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers are a single point ahead of the Penguins in the Eastern Conference standings and with two games remaining in the season, any loss can see major swings.

All three teams are fighting for two spots and to reach the playoffs, all teams have to do is win more than their competitors.

The Penguins say they are remaining focused on the games they have ahead of them, but they know the position they are in.

“I’m sure I’ll keep an eye on it,” Sidney Crosby said. “It doesn’t change what we have to do. We got to worry about ourselves.”

The Panthers are walking into their game with clinching scenarios and lock up one of the two remaining spots.

A win against the Toronto Maple Leafs and an Islanders loss will seal a playoff spot for the Panthers.

“Hopefully we get a little help from the league,” Mike Sullivan said. “We’ve got to make sure that we win the game right in front of us.”

For the Penguins to make the postseason, they just need to win one more game than the either the Panthers or Islanders; so far, all three teams have won a couple in a row.

There isn’t much room for error for the Penguins, as even one loss down the stretch might cost them the entire season.

For the Islanders and Panthers, though, wins could push them into the postseason and put the ball into the Penguins court.

If the Panthers win, and there is still no decision on the Islanders game, their odds to reach the postseason will hit a new peak at 92.2%.

If the Islanders win, however, their playoff odds will also increase and hit 93.5%; these calculations come from moneypuck.com.

A loss from either team will open the door for the Penguins to make a huge move towards the playoffs.

In their final two games, the Penguins will plat a pair of the worst teams in the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets.

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