Penguins Control Their Playoff Destiny
The fate of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots rests with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ten days remain for the Pittsburgh Penguins to clinch one of the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. While they are currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture, a wild weekend across the league has put control into their own hands.
If the Penguins win their remaining five games, they are guaranteed a playoff spot. They are also guaranteed a third-place finish in the Metropolitan division if they win out and beat the New York Islanders in regulation to finish the season.
It took the perfect storm to get the Penguins to this point. Two weeks ago, they were nine points out and hanging onto their playoff lives by a thread. Since then, they've won six of their last seven games and look like an entirely new team.
Standout performances by Alex Nedeljkovic, Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, and Evgeni Malkin have headlined the Penguins current run. But underrated is the impact of the Penguins supporting cast. Players like Michael Bunting, Jack St. Ivany, and Ryan Shea have elevated their games at the perfect moment to push the Penguins over the top.
It's impossible to recognize the Penguins rocketing up the standings board without mentioning the fall of others. The Detroit Red Wings have lost 13 of their last 18 games. The Philadelphia Flyers are on a seven-game losing streak. The Islanders and Washington Capitals respective volatility has allowed them to tread water.
The rest of the field failed to bury the Penguins when they struggled to find their game. Now it's up to them to finish the job in the next two weeks.
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