PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As much as the Penguins embarrassed themselves in New Jersey Tuesday night. If they miss the playoffs, that’s not where it happened. Look back at a few of the games they blew earlier in the year that put them currently out of the playoffs.
“That is a one where they should not have been in that position,” AT&T Sportsnet’s Jay Caufield told the Cook and Joe Show. “They are in this position because they gave away games they should not have. You always hear ‘you hope that isn’t a point you don’t need’. The Penguins have had so many of those games this year. It’s hard to believe they are in this position with four games to go.”
There are a few that come to mind
· October 17, blowing a 2-0 lead in the third and losing in overtime at Montreal
· Lacked ‘urgency’ in 5-1 loss at Vancouver in October
· Blew a two-goal lead and allowed the tying goal with 1:17 left in a loss to Boston in November
· Gave up 5 goals to Buffalo in the third in another November loss
· Gave up 3 goals in the third in a November loss to Montreal
· A horrible performance in a 5-1 loss at home to the Islanders in December
· Had a 2-goal lead with 5 minutes left in loss to Detroit December 28
· January 28-losing 6-4 at home to the 22-win Sharks.
· Allowing 42 shots to Florida in a March loss
· Coming back to tie Detroit, only to lose 7-4
Obviously, you are going to have bad games during an 82-game season, but when you look back and think if they just could have avoided one, if not three or four of these performances it wouldn’t be like this right now.
Pens go into the game on Thursday one point behind the Islanders and Florida. They have all played 78 games. Pens would lose the tie-breaker to both teams, so they must finish ahead of at least one of them.
The Pens finish with first-place Minnesota, then at Detroit Saturday followed by a pair of last place teams Tuesday (hosting Chicago) and next Thursday (at Columbus).
Others:
Florida Panthers
· home to Ottawa Thursday, at Washington Saturday, home to Toronto on Monday and hosting Carolina next Thursday.
New York Islanders
· host Tampa Bay Thursday and the Flyers on Saturday, at Washington on Monday and finish the regular season Wednesday hosting Montreal.
One other team to keep an eye on would be Buffalo. The Sabres are five points behind the Pens, but have played two fewer games.
· at Detroit on Thursday, home to Carolina Saturday and then a pair of back-to-backs. At the Rangers on Monday and at New Jersey on Tuesday. Then next Thursday hosting Ottawa and at Columbus next Friday.
“I think you look strength of schedule and that the Penguins have the better thing going on here,” Caufield told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan. “Initially, that’s the route to go.”
“(However) Chicago and Columbus are playing extremely hard. They are looking to beat you. It won’t be a cakewalk the last few games of the year and even Detroit, Tuesday night, they had a good game.”
What Caufield said gives him hope is up to various interpretations. He said he would never bet against Sidney Crosby. The two-time Stanley Cup champ says the Pens captain can still be a difference-maker, but they have to prove they can win.
“You got to get this game tomorrow night,” Caufield said. “You can’t go down and have three games to go and hope someone does something for you. This is the biggest game of the year, this one really is.”