The Penguins finished up their pre-Olympic schedule yesterday with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. The loss leaves the Pens with 76 points (36-22-4), one point behind the New Jersey Devils, who do have a game in hand, for the Atlantic Division lead. The Penguins sit 4th overall in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Northeast Division leading Ottawa Senators and one point ahead of the Buffalo Sabres who sit in 5th place. The Washington Capitals are the pace setter in the Eastern Conference with 90 points and have all but wrapped up the top seed. As a follow-up from Friday, the Pens were 30-26-6 after 62 games last year for 66 points and were fighting for their playoff lives before ripping off 15 wins in their final 20 games.
The NHL will take a two-week hiatus from action for the Olympic Games in which five Penguins will participate (Orpik for the United States, Crosby and Fleury for Canada, Malkin and Gonchar for Russia). The rest of the team will have time to rest, relax and heal up for the final 20 games and the playoffs. The Penguins are in great shape for another run at the Stanley Cup. The goal for the post-Olympic stretch drive should be to secure that #2 seed, work on the power play and hopefully stay healthy. I would love to see the Pens secure that #2 seed, setting up a potential epic Eastern Conference Final with Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals as well as potentially avoiding the Devils or Capitals until the Conference Final. Regardless of where the Pens finish in the standings, as long as the Pens are in good shape health-wise, Pens’ fans can look forward to another long and exciting playoff run.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment