PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Just when the Islanders give the Pens the opportunity to win and get in the playoffs, the Pens give it right back. A shocking 5-2 loss to the last place Blackhawks Tuesday night.
All the Pens had to do was win their last two games-one hosting Chicago on Fan Appreciation Night and the other at the last place Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. What ended up happening was securing a playoff spot for Florida and giving the Islanders an opportunity to get in with a win at home against Montreal on Wednesday.
Pens seemed in control of the game for most of the first 40 minutes, even though they trailed 1-0. Early in the third a pair of power plays and Evgeni Malkin scores of a beautiful slap-pass from Rickard Rakell to tie the game. The energy was back, emotions were high. Mostly career minor-leaguer Buddy Robinson would score nearly five minutes later to give Chicago a lead it wouldn’t give up. Andreas Athanasiou made it 3-1 26 seconds later.
The Pens 16-game postseason streak comes down to this. They need the Islanders to lose in regulation on Wednesday and then win at Columbus on Thursday. No other scenarios. They did it to themselves.