Pen’s Picks March 2023

Hello March.  The Pens are a Bubble Playoff team at best and to far from the Bedard lottery at worst.  Welcome to March folks, when elite NHL teams start to play real hockey.

Hockey that matters, that is.

Warning:

The results from the next 30 days may be shocking to some of you.

Do you want to know which teams actually have a system that works night in night out?

Tune in.

Do you want to know how your Favorite Teams stacks up against a Final Four team?

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Real Hockey Begins…Now.

Pittsburgh Penguins as of March 01.2023

30-21-9 = 69 pts

5th  in the Metropolitan Division

8th in the Eastern conference

13th Tied in the NHL (overall)

Pittsburgh Penguins are holding the #2 Wild Card Playoff Spot, Eastern Conference.

Here is the Penguins upcoming schedule for the Month of March.

1.     March 02. @ TB

2.     March 04. @ Florida

3.     March 07. Vs CBJ

4.     March 09. Vs NYI

5.     March 11. Vs Phila

6.     March 12. Vs NYR

7.     March 14 vs Montreal

8.     March 16. @ NYR

9.     March 18. @ NYR

10.  March 20. Vs Ottawa

11.  March 22. @ Colorado

12.  March 23.@ Dallas

13.  March 25. Vs Wash

14.  March 28. @ Detroit

15.  March 30 vs Nashville

March 02. @ TB

Well, it appears TB had a little blip in the month of February, losing 5 of 7 games from Feb15 to Feb28th.  The Lightning got kicked by the Penguins in the Feb 26th game, 7-3.  TB, as you know, have been here before.  They just simply know how to win, when it counts.  TB also knows they just need to stay the course, remain healthy and start to ramp it up as they approach April.  I think the Bolts might remember a 7-3 thumping.  The ramp up starts now.

Pen’s Pick: Tampa Bay

Here is what I wrote in Feb 2023

Feb 26. Vs Tampa Bay

The penguins surprised TB back on October 15th with a 6-2 beat down. You know what they say about payback…

Pen’s Pick: Tampa Bay (actual 7-3 Pit W)

March 04. @ Florida

The Penguins waddle into the Panthers den, only 3 points ahead of Florida for the Final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.  The Panthers are scratching and clawing for every point they can get at the moment.  So, believe me, the Panthers are licking their chops, for the opportunity to take a bite out these Penguins.  The Panthers are still trying to figure out who they are.  Winners in 6 of their last 10 games means, these last 20 games will make it or break it for them, as well as the Penguins.  The Pens will break it for the Panthers.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 07. Vs CBJ

CBJ are last in the Metro and last in the entire NHL.  They are selling assets at the NHL Trade Deadline in an attempt to fall hard for Bedard.  They have some pieces in which they can build around, Gaudreau, Laine, to name a few.  They are in essence trying to lose each game, yet they somehow beat Edmonton on Feb 25th, go figure.  The Penguins need to beat teams below them in the standings, and they will.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 09. Vs NYI

Well, the Islanders got Horvat and this one move changed the entire narrative for them in just one trade.  They have confidence, and are now playing a tight checking, Team D first, Playoff style game.  They chocked out the Jets 4-0, on the road.  Wowza.  The Penguins hung with them for 40 of the 60 minutes, in the two games they played against NYI.  I would like to think the Penguins really want this final meeting and would be willing to play an entire 60 minute game, with huge points on the line as well as playoff positioning.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

Here is what I wrote in Feb 2023

Feb 17. @ NYI

The Curse of the Islanders remains.  NYI beat the Pens 5-1 on Dec 27th.  They are chasing the Penguins in the standings and have made the trade for Bo Horvat.  We will know how well BO fits into the Islanders line-up, by the time of this game.  He will either be their inspiration or just another lukewarm addition.  The Penguins Need This Game.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh (Actual 5-4 NYI)

Feb 20. Vs NYI

I really think the Penguins must beat NYI in order to stay afloat in the Wild Card Race.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh (Actual 4-2 NYI)

March 11. Vs Phila

Philly has had a tough season.  They are now thinking about falling hard for Bedard.  Torts is asking his players to sacrifice their bodies in order to lose.  Now that is a tough sell and a tough ask for anyone.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 12. Vs NYR

The Rangers loaded up with talent before the Trade Deadline.  They are making another serious run for the cup.  The Penguins have made no major moves to date and the last complete game they played, was a sweet 3-2 win against NYR on Dec 20.2022.  Wow, it’s sure been a tough and inconsistent stretch for the Penguins.  These Next 3 Games against the Rangers will determine how the rest of this season plays out.  I think a Penguins win, is a stretch in this one.

Pen’s Pick: NYR

March 14 vs Montreal

Montreal Canadiens are in the conversation about Bedard, however like Philly, they keep winning just enough games to stay out of the bottom 5 teams. I don’t understand why this is the year you want to be sub par Mid?

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 16. @ NYR

I really do think that NYR is the better team, at this point in time.  They are younger, faster and have better goaltending.  At the very least, you gotta give them credit, at least they are trying to make their team better and to have a legit shot at the cup, this year.

Pen’s Pick: NYR

March 18. @ NYR

It’s always tough to beat a team 3 times in the same year, let alone over 7 days.  Ya gotta think, Penguin Pride will show up somewhere here in New York, right?  I’ll give an easy lob to Pittsburgh on this one.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 20. Vs Ottawa

They are seriously, oh so close to actually making it into the Wild Card spot, that this game might actually still mean something.  They are only a few pieces away from being a legit playoff team. It’s just not this year.  The Penguins need this one.  The Penguins Must Win This One.  Period.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 22. @ Colorado

The defending champs are getting healthier by the day and hungrier to defend their title, by the hour.  The Pens are not on their level any longer.

Pen’s Pick: Avs

March 23.@ Dallas

Big D are leading the Central by playing some Big D.  Their stars are playing like stars and their goalie is Top 3 in GAA and Top 5 in Save%.  The Penguins and their goalies are not.

Pen’s Pick: Dallas

March 25. Vs Wash

Well, we should know by this game, if the Caps are sinking like a sunset.  They look to be sellers this year, loading up for a run next year.  Either way, the Pens need this one.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

March 28. @ Detroit

So, in November I predicted the Red Wings were oh so close to becoming a regular rock-solid playoff team, Next Year.  I figured they would be in the mix to claim Bedard, however Yzerman is a mastermind builder of NHL Championship Teams.  Remember, it took Stevie Y, 8 years to build Tampa Bay into a Championship Team.  And in just four years, he has the Red Wings, only 3 points out of the Wild Card and on the edge of being a cup contender.  Wow.  Impressive #19.

Pen’s Pick: Red Wings

March 30 vs Nashville

To many injuries caused the Preds to fall in the standing.  Only a slump from those above them, along with Nashville going on a tear, would get them into the playoffs.  The Preds are sellers.  Its next year country for these Preds.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh

Here is what I wrote in Feb 2023

Feb 28. @ Nashville

The Preds are another team trying to climb back into the Playoff mix. By this date we will know exactly who these teams are.  For now, the Pens need to win this one.

Pen’s Pick: Pittsburgh (Actual 3-1 Pit W)

My View from the Cheap Seats

Section: TV     Row: PVR     Seat: The Couch

The hard part of Pen’s Picks, is trying to predict the outcome of these games so far in advance.  There is no doubt, that I would pick differently, had I known Jarry was not in the Lineup.  Know doubt, late scratches and Mid-Month injuries would also sway My Picks.

That said, here is how I see March playing out for the Penguins.  The Penguins must beat these teams in order to stay above the Playoff Cut Line….enjoy.

Pittsburgh Penguins as of March 01.2023

30-21-9 = 69 pts

5th  in the Metropolitan Division

8th in the Eastern conference

13th Tied in the NHL (overall)

Pittsburgh Penguins are holding the #2 Wild Card Playoff Spot, Eastern Conference.

Pen’s Picks Total : I predicted they should be…39-21 = 78 Pts (can you say, “Win those OT games and I’m right there”, …oh yes you can…lol)”

Pens Picks: March 2023

9 Wins

6 Losses

Pens Picks: February 2023

7 Wins

4 Losses

Penguins Actual Record was (6-5)

Penguins got beaten up by NYI, NJ and Edm…ouch, so apparently, we can’t Hang with the Cool Kids, any longer.  Old is retro, not cool.  Old is nostalgia, not hip to the scene, ya know what I mean…lol.  Ice Ice Baby…to cold.

Pens Picks: January 2023

9 Wins

4 Losses

Penguins Actual Record was (5-8)

The Penguins got pumped by the Jets which was bad enough, then went on to lose to Ottawa and San Jose.  This is never a good sign of things to come.

Pens Picks: December 2022

7 Wins

6 Losses

Penguins Actual Record was (8-5)

A Penguins December to Remember…A 7-game win streak means they ain’t cooked just yet.

Pens Picks: November 2022

9 Wins

5 Losses

Penguins Actual Record was (7-7)

Penguins were just to streaky and inconsistent night in, night out.

Pens Picks: October 2022

7 Wins

2 Losses

Penguins Actual Record was (4-5)

The foreshadow of things to come, win 4 of 5, then lose 7-in-a-row after that…yikes.

My Overall Pens Picks Record in 2021-22 were:  I only Predicted some games.

22 Wins

10 Losses

Nov 15.21 Penguins Enter Canada with a Free Trade Agreement: 6 Wins 3 Losses

Dec 06.21 Pens vs Eastern Conference – Part 1: 7 Wins 3 Losses

Jan 27.21 Pens vs Eastern Conference – Part 2: 9 Wins 4 Losses

May 02.22 Penguins vs Rangers 2022 Playoff Preview: I called it going 7 games.

Quote of the Day:

“It infuriates me to be wrong when I know I’m right“

Moliere – Actor / Playwright