Penguins face difficult path to playoffs with 2 games remaining

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Penguins face difficult path to playoffs with 2 games remaining

Triblive | Monday, April 15, 2024 9:46 a.m.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark takes the puck away from the Penguins’ Rickard Rakell in the third period Saturday, at PPG Paints Arena.

Four teams continue to battle for the final wild-card spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference entering the final days of the regular season.

While the New York Islanders have the inside track on the third-place position in the East with 90 points, Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh Penguins remain alive for the second wild-card berth. Tampa Bay has locked up the first wild-card position with 96 points.

The Penguins’ loss to Boston on Saturday hindered their playoff chances, but they remain in the hunt with two games remaining.

With 86 points, they trail the Capitals, Red Wings and Flyers, who all have 87 points. If there is a tie, the first tiebreaker is regulation wins. The Penguins have 31 regulation wins, ahead of Washington (30), Philadelphia (30) and Detroit (27). The Islanders have 27.

Three of the four teams in the hunt for a wild-card spot are in action Monday night. If the Penguins lose and the Capitals or Red Wings win, the Penguins will be eliminated from playoff contention.

Here’s a look at what remains for each team in the hunt in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.

New York Islanders

Record: 37-27-16, 90 points

Where they stand: Third place in the Metropolitan standings

Remaining games: at New Jersey (Monday), vs. Penguins (Wednesday)

Notable: The Islanders earned a crucial point in Saturday’s shootout loss to the Rangers. They can clinch a playoff spot Monday night with a victory over New Jersey. There are also scenarios where they can clinch with a loss or overtime point.

Washington Capitals

Record: 38-31-11, 87 points

Where they stand: Second place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings

Remaining games: vs. Boston (Monday), at Philadelphia (Tuesday)

Notable: The Capitals control their playoff destiny and will be in with wins in their final two games. Even with a loss in either game, they can get in with some help.

Detroit Red Wings

Record: 39-32-9, 87 points

Where they stand: Third place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings

Remaining games: vs. Montreal (Monday), at Montreal (Tuesday)

Notable: The Red Wings are coming off a win over Toronto and have a favorable schedule with two games against Montreal. They have the least amount of regulation wins among the remaining contenders, so tiebreakers likely won’t fall in their favor if it comes to that.

Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 38-32-11, 87 points

Where they stand: Fourth place in the Metropolitan Division

Remaining games: vs. Washington (Tuesday)

Notable: The Flyers are idle Monday and get to watch the other teams play, but a crucial matchup against the Capitals will be played Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center that will greatly factor into the final standings.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 37-31-12, 86 points

Where they stand: Fifth place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings

Remaining games: vs. Nashville (Monday), at Islanders (Wednesday)

Notable: The Penguins are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, but that one loss Saturday to Boston was deflating to their playoff hopes. The Penguins are 8-2-2 in their last 12 games against Nashville.

STANDINGS

Through April 14 games

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

*Boston, 47-18-15, 109 points

*Florida, 51-24-6, 108 points

*Toronto, 46-24-10, 102 points

*Tampa Bay, 44-28-8, 96 points

Detroit, 39-32-9, 87 points

Buffalo, 38-37-6, 82 points

Ottawa, 36-40-4, 76 points

Montreal, 30-36-14, 74 points

Metropolitan

*N.Y. Rangers, 54-23-4, 112 points

*Carolina, 52-22-7, 111 points

N.Y. Islanders, 37-27-16, 90 points

Washington, 38-31-11, 87 points

Philadelphia, 38-32-11, 87 points

Pittsburgh, 37-31-12, 86 points

New Jersey, 38-38-5, 81 points

Columbus, 26-43-12, 64 points

Wild-card