Given the Penguins’ recent struggles against Metro Division rivals Carolina and the Rangers, there’s a general perception that our guys aren’t performing too well against other playoff teams. So I decided to take a look at how the Eastern Conference heavyweights are faring against each other in head-to-head competition.
Without further ado, here are the results:
|
| PIT | CAR | NYR | WSH | FLA | TBL | TOR | BOS |
| PIT |
| 2-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 0-1-0 |
| CAR | 1-1-1 |
| 1-1-0 | 3-1-0 | 3-0-0 | 1-1-1 | 2-1-0 | 0-3-0 |
| NYR | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 |
| 1-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 0-2-1 | 1-0-1 | 0-1-1 |
| WSH | 1-1-1 | 1-2-1 | 1-1-0 |
| 2-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 |
| FLA | 1-1-1 | 0-1-2 | 2-1-0 | 1-1-1 |
| 1-2-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-1-0 |
| TBL | 2-1-0 | 2-0-1 | 3-0-0 | 0-1-1 | 2-0-1 |
| 1-1-0 | 2-0-1 |
| TOR | 2-1-0 | 1-1-1 | 1-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-1 |
| 0-2-0 |
| BOS | 1-0-0 | 3-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 0-2-0 | 1-0-1 | 1-2-0 | 2-0-0 |
|
| Total | 9-7-3 | 10-6-5 | 12-5-0 | 7-8-2 | 11-5-2 | 7-9-3 | 9-4-1 | 5-8-2 |
| Points | 21 | 25 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 17 | 19 | 12 |
| Points% | 0.553 | 0.595 | 0.706 | 0.471 | 0.667 | 0.447 | 0.679 | 0.400 |
No, we’re not burning up the track by any means. However, as you can see, with a 9-7-3 record the Pens are holding their own against the other playoff-positioned clubs. We’re fourth in points and fifth in points percentage. In other words, middle of the pack, which feels about right.
The Rangers have the best points percentage (.706), followed somewhat surprisingly by Toronto (.679). Florida is third at .667.
The Pens have the second fewest games remaining against fellow playoff contenders, one game each against the Rangers and Capitals and two against Boston.
Zucker to Return
It’s pretty much a lock that Jason Zucker will return to the lineup tonight against his old team the Wild. Jason’s missed the past 30 games due to core muscle surgery. He’s slated to skate on the second line alongside Evgeni Malkin and newcomer Rickard Rakell, who’ll slide to right wing.
To make room, it appears Radim Zohorna will take a seat. Big Z’s acquitted himself very well in his second go ‘round with the black and gold. Seeing mostly fourth line duty (ATOI 10:23) he’s tallied two goals and six points in 17 games to go with a sparkling plus-12…tied with Sidney Crosby for the best mark among our forwards. He’s been on the ice for only one even-strength goal against.
It appears Mark Friedman will supplant Marcus Pettersson on the third pairing. Here are the likely line combinations and defense pairings for tonight’s game.
| Forwards |
| Guentzel-Crosby-Rust Zucker-Malkin-Rakell Rodrigues-Carter-Kapanen Boyle-Blueger-Heinen |
| Defense |
| Dumoulin-Letang Matheson-Marino Friedman-Ruhwedel |
| Goal |
| DeSmith |
Old Friends
Tonight’s game will definitely have a Pittsburgh feel. No fewer than four former Pens, Nick Bjugstad, Marc-Andre Fleury, Frederick Gaudreau and Alex Goligoski play for the Wild. A fifth, defenseman Calen Addison, currently skates for the Iowa Wild of the AHL. And, of course, Bill Guerin’s the general manager.
Enjoying a solid season, Goligoski recently signed a two-year contract extension. With nine goals and 31 points in 59 games, Gaudreau’s having a fine season as well. Sure wish we could’ve kept him. I just like the way Freddy competes and plays the game. Gritty, smart and crafty. A glue guy. Kind of like Nick Bonino.
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View Comments
I'm confused
In the Pit column, they are 1-1-1 against Carolina. In the Carolina column, they are 2-1-0 against Pit.
Same issue for Car column where against wash they are 1-2-1 but in wash column they are 3-1-0 vs Car.
What am I missing?
Hey Zeb,
Overtime/shootout games. one team gets a win, they other a tie.
Sorry rick,
See my previous post I just put up. Did not see this new article you did.
14 games left and 12 opponents who can either beat us or beat us up physically. Not a great position to be in.
Cheers
Jim
Hey Rick.
Interesting. I think the last two years the Pens won the Cup, they were 8-7-1 and 7-6-1 regular season against teams they ended up playing in the playoffs. I wonder what the teams they ended up playing records against said teams were?
I see TOR posted the Penguins record against probable playoff teams in the comments a few times. If a team wins the Cup they only play 1/4 of the playoff teams. The Pens could end up playing all teams they beat handily in the regular season, but what does that get them? The Pens were 7-2 regular season against the Islanders last year, It that didn't get them diddly squat..
Players play different in the playoffs. The Penguins have a pretty seasoned playoff squad. along with newcomers who are hungry for a Cup win.
The roster with Zucker back looks great on paper. I think Pettersson will be a healthy scratch tonight also.
Hey Rick,
I have been following this closely for a while now. I tend not to worry about our record against the Atlantic Division because we first have to get out of the Metro. We are 3-6 against Metro teams (OT loses are still loses come playoff time). We are not really holding our own against the Metro. Unless Zucker comes back like a ball of fire and holds it thru the playoffs, we run the risk of getting swept in the 1st round right now. NYR, our probable opponent dominated us (in your own word last post)in our own building.
As I said, if Zucker isn't a ball of fire we are in a world of hurt. The Metro knows us like the back of their hands and we don't change up.
Hey Tor,
The way the standings are right now, Penguins could play the Atlantic division, Boston or Tampa, second round. The Atlantic division does have relevance as the Pens could play 2 out of three rounds against them on the way to the Cup finals.
Hey Phil,
Currently for our Pens to play the Bruins, Boston has to beat Washington for the right to play Carolina in the 1st round. And then beat them.
And it is nigh impossible for a Pens - Bolts match up. Our Pens have to fall to the Wild Card spot that Matches up against Florida. Then they would have to beat the Cats while the Bolts beat the Leafs.
At one point less than a month ago if the regular season ended that day, the Penguins would have been facing the Lightning in the first round. They were talking about it on a Penguins broadcast. With a month still left, anything can happen. If the Pens did fall to a wild card spot like you mentioned, it would be possible the Pens go to the Stanley Cup final not playing a Metro team at all. So Rick's chart makes perfect sense.
Hey Phil,
You are right, anything is possible, including the Penguins not making the playoffs. Mathematically, the Caps, Isles and even Columbus can all beat out the Pens. When I wrote, I am not worried about the Atlantic division I was, of course, writing about the highest probabilities, not outlier wish lists. As it stands now, the Penguins will be 2nd or 3rd, more than likely 3rd. and have to fight thru NYR and Car before they can think about feasting on the Atlantic.
You can call me pessimistic if you want, but the odds are I am right, meaning I am realistic.
Sorry Rick, That was me TOR, I forgot, I hit post to quick