Pens Labyrinth
Fansided

New Years Midweek Rooting Guide for Penguins Fans

The Penguins benefited from a fairly neutral holiday weekend, but with the New Year approaching, points are still there for the taking. Here's who to root for this week.
ByZane Bloom|
Oct 12, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates past a fan holding a sign during the warmup before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates past a fan holding a sign during the warmup before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

The weekend coming out of Christmas break was decent for Pittsburgh. A couple home and home splits, including the Penguins' own, made it to where the points laid out fairly evenly among the Eastern Conference teams.

The Penguins didn't make up much ground, but they did not lose any. With plenty of time left in the season, hanging around is not a bad place to be.

Let's look at the key matchups around the NHL this week in relation to the Penguins' playoff aspirations and determine who Penguins fans should be rooting for.

Note: All Eastern Conference vs Western Conference matchups are understood to root for the Western Conference team and won't be covered in this thread.

Tuesday, December 31

Matchup
Bruins
20-14-4
Capitals
24-10-2
December 31, 202412:30pm

Realistically, the Capitals are too far gone to wish on their downfall this early. If it happens in the final half of the season it would be quite sweet, but the Bruins are the threat right now. The Penguins need the Capitals to rack up losses on Boston's line.

Matchup
Islanders
14-16-7
Maple Leafs
22-13-2
December 31, 20241:00pm

After splitting the home and home with Pittsburgh, the Islanders need reminded of where they are destined to stay this season: the basement. Let's root for some help from the Maples Leafs.

Matchup
Hurricanes
22-13-1
Blue Jackets
15-16-6
December 31, 20248:00pm

The Hurricanes continue to be an interesting prospect in these rooting guides. They're far enough ahead of the Penguins to where they aren't in the picture clearly, but not far enough away to wish them well against other Eastern Conference teams. The deciding factor is the games in hand. The Hurricanes could come back down to earth with a flurry of losses (including against the Penguins early into the new year). Let's go with the Blue Jackets here.

Thursday, January 2

Matchup
Hurricanes
22-13-1
Panthers
22-13-2
January 2, 20257:00pm

Welcome to 2025! Our beloved Hurricanes are back. Delusion promotes the idea of hoping for the Hurricane's downfall ahead of the matchup with the Penguins on January 5th. Embrace the delusion. If the Hurricanes skid and the Penguins get hot, the Wild Card could be left in the rearview mirror. Repeat of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. Let's go Panthers.

Matchup
Bruins
20-14-4
Rangers
16-18-1
January 2, 20257:00pm

Thanks to the Rangers' downfall, we can root for a rare win against the Bruins. If peak delusion doesn't pan out (which it probably won't), the next best option is to jump Boston when they inevitably get passed by Tampa Bay. Go get a win, Rangers.

Matchup
Red Wings
14-18-4
Blue Jackets
15-16-6
January 2, 20257:00pm

This one is much easier to root against the Blue Jackets. They are in the easiest position to usurp the Penguins. The Red Wings are not, and they're trending downward too. Need a rare Red Wings win (in Columbus no less).

Matchup
Maple Leafs
22-13-2
Islanders
14-16-7
January 2, 20257:30pm

We've seen this movie before. Seems like the Islanders love their home and homes. Here's hoping the Maples Leafs sweep this one.

As always, the rooting guide is created with the understanding that the Penguins maintain their winning pace. All games are EST.

Home/Penguins News

Schedule