The Pittsburgh Penguins look like a weak opponent, but Sidney Crosby is still leading the charge.

PITTSBURGH - With the regular season winding down for the Pittsburgh Penguins, their chances of making the postseason continue to increase.

A few key wins and huge losses from a team like the Florida Panthers have put the Penguins in the driver’s seat.

While nothing is set in stone, the odds are heavily in their favor.

But, once they’re in, how far can the Penguins’ flawed roster be carried by their leaders? Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can only do so much damage.

Especially if their opening round opponent is a Boston Bruins team on the verge of making history.

It’s a tall task, but Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman believe the Penguins might have a better chance of beating the Bruins than the Panthers.

According to moneypuck.com, the Penguins have an 82.2% chance of making the postseason, and a 28.8% shot of winning a round.

If they play the Bruins, that’ll be next to impossible, but the Penguins are a team with a determined Crosby at the helm.

“I want no part of him,” Friedman said about playing against Crosby in the postseason.

Marek and Friedman noted that the Penguins have been beat down with injuries and the goaltending is in an awkward position, but Crosby is a driven competitor.

“Give me great talent that works hard all the time.”

In a season where the depth has been invisible for the Penguins all year, Crosby has elevated his game to near MVP level.

At the age of 35, Crosby has recorded 31 goals and 54 assists for 84 points in 73 games played.

Crosby is leading by example for the Penguins and not letting this team fall out of contention for another Stanley Cup.

The Penguins may not have won a playoff round since 2018, but anything can happen once the game changes in the postseason.

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