With a definitive 5-0 win today against the New York Islanders, the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched their tenth consecutive playoff berth.
This afternoon’s victory over the New York Islanders punched the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ tenth-straight playoff ticket, making the Pens only the second Eastern Conference team to clinch so far.
It’s fitting that two rookies led the way in today’s win, just like call-ups have done all season. Matt Murray got his first NHL shutout and Oskar Sundqvist got his first NHL, which proved to be the game winner. One can only imagine how amazing it must feel for these two young players to contribute in such a big way.
Only the President’s Trophy-winning Washington Capitals have clinched in the East otherwise, and no one is passing them. Though it’s not immediately relevant to the Penguins, seven out of eight teams have clinched in the West by now.
Given how much the Eastern playoff picture has shifted and how much it will continue to, it’s all but impossible to guess who the Pens will end up playing. However, as of right now they would face off against the New York Rangers for the third straight year.
The Rangers beat the Pens in both of the last two postseasons – last year, it was thanks to Carl Hagelin‘s goal. Luckily, Hagelin is a Penguin now and has been fitting in phenomenally in the black and gold. Every time he’s squared off against the team that drafted him he’s played with a vengeance, and could be a key factor in breaking that playoff losing streak.
There’s also a chance, albeit a smaller one, that the Pens will play the New York Islanders. They’ve antagonized each other often enough, today included, that it might be a matchup as contentious as one between the Penguins and Rangers.
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Still, the Islanders have such little playoff experience in recent years that the Penguins have a major advantage in that field.
After the slow start to the season, constant injuries, and coaching shakeup, not many fans expected the Penguins to make the playoffs. Mike Sullivan has really turned the team around and proven to be a strong leader. The Penguins have been strong on all fronts under Sullivan and have come out to play a full 60 minutes every game.
He has helped Sidney Crosby grow his own leadership skills, not to mention the torrid scoring pace the captain has sustained through March. Phil Kessel has also been absolutely on fire lately, and Sullivan has the entire lineup producing for him.
Looking at the turnaround that got the Penguins to this point, it’s seriously amazing how much the Penguins have improved under Sullivan. Whoever they play in the playoffs, they will be a force to be reckoned with.