Penguins/NHL
Latest Pens Buzz
The Pittsburgh Penguins enter Game #82 and the final day of the regular season in a situation where they can still finish 2nd/3rd or the top wildcard spot.
The Islanders go into the night controlling their destiny where they need to earn just one point to clinch home-ice in Round 1.
SCENARIOS
1. New York Islanders clinch 2nd place in Metro If they earn at least one point or Pittsburgh loses
2. Pittsburgh Penguins will clinch 2nd place in Metro if they win and Islanders lose in regulation
Worst Case Scenario for the Penguins tonight:
The Penguins would finish in the top wild card spot and be awarded with a round 1 matchup vs the Capitals if the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh loses in regulation.
Penguins in position for a favorable Round 1 matchup
Far from a shock, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is all-in with his lineup tonight vs the New York Rangers. The hockey mentality is always play your best lineup games 1-82 and despite clinching a playoff spot Thursday night, Sullivan will dress a full lineup tonight, including goaltender Matt Murray whose heavy workload continues.
There won’t be a let’s rest the likes of Sidney Crosby, Matt Murray, ect, mentality and let the chips fall.
Murray would have been an ideal candidate to get a night off but there is believed to have been little thought to going to Casey DeSmith tonight in goal.
Murray’s heavy workload will be something to watch as the playoffs progress. Murray’s played in 77% of the Penguins games since the middle of December and If his play starts to tail off a bit that plays a factor in Pittsburgh having a quick exit, the narrative that Pittsburgh overworked him when Casey DeSmith has provided .915%+ level goaltending, will certainly become a narrative that emerges.
For Pittsburgh tonight, it’s all about getting the matchup with the Islanders. Whether Pittsburgh starts on the road or at home in a 2/3 scenario, the Center and Goaltending edge is so large in Pittsburgh’s favor, there would just be no excuse not to get out of a Round 1 matchup with the Isles.
MORE BUZZ
— Kris Letang returned to the lineup Thursday night vs the Red Wings but his situation was a bit murky 48-72 hours before the Pittsburgh – Detroit contest on Thursday. Letang’s latest short absence from the lineup was not a situation with the Penguins medical staff being ones [hide] keeping him out of the lineup because they identified another injury concern with his neck. Getting over the mental aspect of the type of injury (neck) Letang has dealt with can be extremely difficult for anybody, these guys are human like the rest of us, and that’s what is said to have been at play here that led to a bit of an unknown on when Letang was going to be comfortable enough to return to the lineup.
Sources say a discussion between the Penguins brass and Letang that included close associates of Letang early in the week had the Penguins believing Letang was strongly considering sitting out well past this week and into the playoffs until he felt 100% comfortable. Letang knows his body better than any doctor and Thursday morning Letang to the surprise of the team is said to have arrived at the arena with the mindset that he was ready to go.
— Good news for the Penguins is Brian Dumoulin is progressing where he’s going to have a shot to be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs if Pittsburgh opens up Wednesday night.
There was an initial fear that Dumoulin could be sidelined 10-14 days but things are heading in the direction where Pittsburgh expects him back in the lineup at somepoint next week.
“The fact that Dumo was on the ice is really encouraging from our standpoint,” Mike Sullivan said this morning.
#’s Watch
*Sidney Crosby (34G-64A-98Pts) – 2 Points away from his first 100 point season since the Dan Bylsma era (2013-2014 Season).
*Jake Guentzel (39G-35A-74Pts) – 1 Goal Away from 40 Goals [/hide]
