The Penguins have made it five out of their last six after yesterday’s 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. They are still stuck in neutral as far as the standings. Even if they won out and put together an 11 game winning streak they can only max out at 90 standings points. What they can do is play spoiler and they did by bumping Columbus’ playoff chances down to 5.6% per Moneypuck.
The players are going to play hard and the games are going to go how they are going to go even if losing is the best course of action for the big picture. Certain things have been going really well as of late. Goaltending and shooting are among the best in the league. Since Tristan Jarry’s recall the Penguins lead the entire NHL in PDO with 1113. However, in the same time frame they’ve been the second worst team in the NHL with an xGF% of 39.5.
With a goal and an assist Sidney Crosby moves to 76 points on the season. He can play a maximum of 80 games which means he is four points short with 11 games left on the schedule to achieve his 20th consecutive point per game season. There were times midway through the year where it could have gone either way. He’s been great the second half of the year and is in the driver’s seat to break Wayne’s record. He mixed in a vintage #SidDownLow goal last night.
With the goal he has hit the 25 mark for the 15th time in his career. The only years he didn’t hit the 25 mark were when he missed time for injury or a shortened season.
Boko Imama had himself a night. He flirted with the Gordie Howe hat trick after taking on Mathieu Olivier at center ice and then absolutely burying a shot in the upper corner to give the Penguins a 4-2 lead.
He didn’t quite get the assist and is hopeful moving forward.
Penguins will fly to Miami for a Florida swing where they will take on the Panthers tomorrow and then Jake Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Thanks for reading!
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