The Pittsburgh Penguins in a normal year have little reason to be looked at as a true playoff team. Neither do four or five other teams still in the mix. So why not join the party? Pittsburgh’s 4-0-2 run has given them life to go with a lot of help in the standings and is everything falling into place for a stunning end of the season run?

Something about that Tuesday night’s win where Pittsburgh was so badly outplayed for the first two periods, yet they stormed back with five unanswered goals, has to make you think if just maybe the Penguins are destined for the playoffs?

They suddenly have a buzz about them, and we will find out tonight whether the playoffs are actually becoming a reality or still fantasy……..

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Tonight’s showdown in Washington has the makings of being the Penguins (79 Pts | 75 GP) season. Pittsburgh has seven games remaining with three games remaining against teams they are chasing in Washington (82 Pts | 74 GP), New York Islanders (81 Pts | 75 GP) and Detroit Red Wings (82 Pts | 75 GP). You have to get this one. Win in regulation tonight the Penguins pull within one point of the Capitals and two points of the Flyers for third place. Expectations change throughout the season. Pittsburgh right now is playing with house money. The pressure is squarely on Washington tonight. As John Tortorella of the Flyers said this week, just because you weren’t supposed to be here doesn’t mean you cradle and act like you don’t belong here. Once you get into albeit a surprising playoff spot like Washington has done, you need to finish the job and get in. The pressure is certainly on them tonight as the Penguins have often been a house of horrors for Washington in their own building in the Crosby Area.

More pressure on the Caps? Washington has lost three straight games and has a back-to-back situation ahead tonight vs Pittsburgh and @ Carolina Friday night. The Capitals after doing well early in the season in the second night of back-to-backs, have lost five of their last six games on the second night of a back-to-back, which only intensifies the pressure tonight of ending the skid and making it lights out for the Penguins.

Playoffs Watch Tonight

Penguins @ Capitals

Islanders @ Blue Jackets

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More Buzz

Percentage Swings Tonight: Pittsburgh’s playoff percentages have bumped up to the mid-teens for the first time in quite a while. A regulation win see’s Pittsburgh move up to around 24%, a regulation loss for the Capitals takes them down to under 40%, while a Capitals in regulation and or OT/SO win still has them in the 60% range. Quite the game for both teams.

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— Once a staple of Mike Sullivan’s system, the Penguins are the 31st ranked rush offense team. Are all parties starting to finally figure out when all of your offense is made in the offensive zone, you know you might want to get to the tough areas every once in a while? More and more players have started creeping off the perimeter and a stunner, more puck luck is happening during this little five to six game run.

Is the Michael Bunting acquisition — James Neal – Patric Hornqvist type-esque — in losing the more talented player but gaining in other critical areas your team lacks? Some in the organization see it To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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Game Day Buzz: Some felt Sidney Crosby ran out of gas at certain points over the final two months of last season where he had 21 points in his last 22 games as Pittsburgh missed the playoffs by a point. Putting the team on his back all season, Crosby has 15 points in his last six games. If he kept around the same pace over the final seven games (2.5 P/G), not only is Pittsburgh probably sneaking into the playoffs but Crosby would net his first To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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