Pittsburgh, Pa. (93.7 The Fan) – The longest running playoff streak for any of the teams in the four major North American sports leagues is over.
After the New York Islanders defeated the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, 4-2, on Long Island, they clinched the final Wild Card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. That leaves the Pittsburgh Penguins on the outside of the playoff picture, signaling the first year without a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth in the Steel City since the 2005-06 season.
An Islanders loss on Monday to the Washington Capitals gave the Penguins the opportunity to win their last two games and qualify for the playoffs. However, a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday handed New York their chance to clinch Wednesday, and the Islanders buried their second chance opportunity.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said after practice on Wednesday he would alter his lineup if they didn’t get in the playoffs. There may be some regulars who don’t play in Columbus on Thursday night.
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AT&T Sportsnet’s Jay Caufield told the "Cook and Joe Show" on Wednesday he never thought, even with all of the inconsistencies this year, they would have lost to the last place Blackhawks at home. He said it’s not just the cliché of "the points you gave up in October," rather it’s a whole team construction issue.
“No matter you want to rip apart on the roster and the things that are wrong, they still should be winning these games and still comfortably within the playoff number,” Caufield told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan. “It’s crazy to me. With Sidney Crosby still performing the way he has. A lot of other things got ya. The injuries with the goaltending, the up-and-down play of the goaltending, special teams going sideways-all of that comes into play and now you are on the outside.”
There was a somber air in the Penguins' locker room after their 25-minute practice in Cranberry on Wednesday. While they held out hope of a Montreal win, they also knew they blew their opportunity.
As you look ahead to next year, Caufield said there are numerous holes that have to be made up this offseason, and they’ll have to do it with limited salary cap room. They’ll also have a few albatross contracts to deal with:
- Mikael Granlund: Five points (1+4) in 20 games, $5 million
- Jeff Carter: 38-years-old, a minus-16, $3.125 million
- Jeff Petry: 35-years-old, 31 points (5+26) but inconsistent, $6.25 million
They have just over $63 million already committed to next season, according to CapFriendly, and that’s with free agents Tristan Jarry and Jason Zucker, as well as restricted free agents Alexander Nylander and Drew O’Connor. Plus, after next season Jake Guentzel becomes an unrestricted free agent.
“They are multiple moves away,” Caufield said. “You even hear players, Evgeni Malkin saying they were faster than them. They are not built properly, they are multiple moves away. They are multiple players away to compete.
“Look at New Jersey, the speed and they are heavy. The Penguins don’t have that. They don’t have what it takes to compete. Plus, you have to settle your goaltending.
“There is a new generation of player - they’re fast, they’re big, they’re strong, they’re skilled. The Penguins don’t have that kind of thing. Mrazek had 8-10 big saves [Tuesday night for Chicago], but the rest he could see everything. They don’t have bodies to get in front.”
Sullivan won a pair of Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He guided the Penguins to the playoffs every year but this one. In no sport are successful coaches fired more often than hockey.
“Sullivan coaches the same way every time, and I think the talent that he has, hasn’t been there,” Caufield said. “The mistakes that are bad, Evgeni Malkin had the goal [Tuesday], but his line was on for multiple goals. That’s not Mike Sullivan’s fault.”
Caufield acknowledges, at times, the head coach’s messages get stale. That change is good just for change sake. He doesn’t think this is the case.
“If the message isn’t getting through to some players, than the players should move on,” Caufield said. “I would not pin this on Mike Sullivan. It’s the product on the ice that didn’t get the job done.”
The run for the Penguins is over. Now how long until a return to the postseason?