A few weeks ago, it seemed that the Pittsburgh Penguins' season was already on life support. They sat in dead last in the Metropolitan Division at 7-12-4 and were posting the worst goal differential (-34) in the entire NHL. Sidney Crosby's 600th career goal was a mere footnote in a brutal 6-1 loss at home to the Utah Hockey Club. The calls for Mike Sullivan to be fired were coming from everywhere.
How things have changed since then.
The Pens have ridden a 6-2-1 stretch to move from basement dwellers to the fringes of postseason contention. Their offense has been electric, peaking with a six-goal period in Montreal last Thursday, and that's with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combining to score ONE of their 38 total goals over that stretch. Philip Tomasino has three since being aquired from the Nashville Predators, while Bryan Rust has seven, Rickard Rackell has six, and Kris Letang has five over those same nine games.
Meanwhile, Tristan Jarry has been solid in net, posting a save percentage of over .900 in five of his last six starts. While still far from elite, it's been enough to keep Pittsburgh in the hunt.
As things stand, the Pens sit just one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers are also ahead on account of playing fewer games. Tampa Bay holds the top Wild Card spot with three more points than Pittsburgh.
The next seven games are a great opportunity for the Pens to wiggle their way into a Wild Card Spot before the New Year. It starts with the LA Kings tonight, who despite holding a WC in the West have struggled (8-7-2) far more on the road this season.
After that, the Pens head to Nashville Thursday night to face the league's current last-place team, followed by the most difficult matchup of the stretch: at New Jersey on Saturday. It'd be a major upset if they can pull it off, but it's the one game in the stretch to not expect much.
The Flyers come to Pittsburgh for the first Battle of Pennsylvania on Monday, followed after Christmas by a home and home with the Islanders, who are tied in the standings with the Pens right now. The stretch concludes with a trip to Detroit and the sub-.500 Red Wings on New Year's Eve.
If the Pens want to prove they can be contenders this season, this is the stretch to prove it. January's slate is full of stronger opponents including the Panthers, Oilers, and Capitals, and also features a seven-game road trip through the second half of the month. A rough stretch now could put them right back where they were in November while the rest of the East claws for the final two spots.
Either way, it's make or break time for the Black and Gold.