PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As great as most everything went on Thursday night, it went the other way on the last Saturday night of the regular season. The team ahead of them the Pens could still catch lost, but in overtime. And the three behind them are now the three in front of them.
The updated standings.
Metropolitan Division
Rangers-81 games 112 points
Carolina-80 games 109 points
Islanders-80 games 90 points Remaining games at NJ, Pit
Washington-80 games 87 points Remaining games-Bos, at Phi
Philadelphia-81 games 87 points Remaining game-Wash
PENS-80 games 86 points Remaining games-Nash, at NYI
Wild Card
Tampa Bay-80 games 96 points
Washington-80 games 87 points Remaining games-Bos, at Phi
Detroit-80 87 points Remaining games-Mon, at Mon
Philadelphia-81 games 87 points Remaining game-Wash
Pens reaction
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"I just think that the important thing is that we have to be aware of and be focused on is the game right in front of us, because that's really what we can control,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “And we knew this was a tough stretch. We knew this was going to be a tough one against one of the best teams in the league.”
“We still have two more games to play and that's how we look at it. So we've got to get some rest here, we've got to reenergize for the game on Monday and we've got to put our very best game on the ice. Hopefully we get a favorable result and then we'll see where that takes us. But I think that at the end of the day, that's really the mindset that we have to have,. That's where our focus needs to be."
“Hopefully we can come back and bring the energy we’ve had for the past couple of weeks,” said Pens defenseman Erik Karlsson. “Take care of our business, everything that goes on around us is out of our hands.”
“We have another game on Monday we have to get ready for,” said Pens forward Drew O’Connor. “Obviously we are still in it. We have two games left. We have to win those two.”