Penguins Hoping to Control Playoff Fate Against Islanders

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PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins picked themselves up off the mat and stuck in the fight until the last possible day, but it may have been too little too late. Despite being one of the hottest teams in the NHL with an 8-1-3 record in their last 12 games, the Penguins still don’t control their playoff destiny.

While the Penguins sit idle on a day off, the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings can squash their playoff hopes if either wins in their final game of the season.

It’s not an easy position to be in, but the Penguins did everything they could to keep themselves in the fight down the stretch.

“We’ve done a good job over the last little bit trying to control what we can control and play with a lot of urgency,” Reilly Smith said. We don’t control our destiny, which is tough. I think we’ll bring the same urgency and mindset going into the next game.”

While the Penguins travel to Long Island to prepare for Game 82 against the Islanders, they will likely not have much choice but to watch and see what happens with the Capitals and Red Wings.

“There’s not much to do on the Island,” Smith said when asked if he’d watch the games. “Possibly.”

Throughout their improbable run, the Penguins have preached the importance of worrying about their games and focusing on their own tasks at hand. With that said, there is still confidence that their matchup against the Islanders is a meaningful one.

“We’re just focusing on ourselves,” Alex Nedeljkovic said. “We’re going to need help, but we can’t control that. We can’t think about that. We’ve got to just worry about ourselves. Take care of our business because none of it matters if we don’t come back with the same effort.”

The Penguins played one of their best and most well-rounded games of the season against the Nashville Predators in a must-win scenario. Getting that win was a huge confidence boost and could be useful if they get the proper results from around the league.

“Obviously, we need some help,” Sidney Crosby said. “Given the position we were in a few weeks ago, we would have taken this opportunity.”

If the Penguins reach the postseason, they will make NHL history as the first team ever to overcome a nine-point deficit in the final 11 games of the season to reach the playoffs. They’ve worked hard to get into the position they are in, but it might not be enough.

“Hopefully, we get some help,” Crosby said. The most we can do is control being ready to play and find a way to win another one.”

No matter what happens with the Capitals and Red Wings, the Penguins will have a Game 82 on Long Island and look to finish off the 2023-24 season on a high note.

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