|
Penguins and Canada avoid a really bad scenario |
|
|
|
|
|
The New Jersey Devils are comfortably in a playoff spot while the Penguins have been toiling near the bottom of the conference. On paper it seemed like this game should be lopsided. It ended up being a closely contested matchup with the Penguins actually holding an edge in xGF% at 56.91%. This might be more surprising than it should have been. The Devils are currently in a dip. Here’s their season long rolling average in xGF%
They’ll have to clean this area up if they want to make a run in the spring.
Overall, not a bad showing by a Penguins team looking to play out the string for the rest of the season as they will look to sell more players at the deadline. The biggest variable in keeping the Penguins watchable is of course their captain Sidney Crosby and it really looked like he was going bye bye for a while.
Sidney Crosby went the locker room after this awkward collision with Luke Hughes and Erik Haula
#LetsGoPens
[image or embed]
— Hockey Daily 365 - NHL Highlights & News 🏒 (@hockeydaily365.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I’m sure everyone in Hockey Canada’s brass were holding their breath with this one. The Four Nations tournament is about a week away and their captain was leaving the ice grimacing in legit pain. Fortunately, for Penguins fans, Canadians, and really all hockey fans Crosby ended up returning to the game.
Prior to the collision Crosby had earned an assist on Rickard Rakell’s 24th goal of the season. Crosby now has 58 points in 55 games. He is maintaining that point per game pace which will be one of the things to focus on as we head down the stretch.
The Penguins are off until Friday when they will play on the road at MSG and then on Saturday in Philadelphia. Then the league will be on pause for the Four Nations tournament.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»