Tim Benz: Penguins need to accept holiday gifts from NHL schedule maker

As Christmas approaches, the NHL schedule makers have already sent the Penguins a few early presents.

Let’s hope the Penguins graciously accept them.

The next five games for the Penguins, between Tuesday and Christmas, are all extremely winnable contests.

• A Tuesday, Dec. 14 home game against the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has only 15 points. The Canadiens have lost six in a row and eight of 10. During the six-game losing streak, they are averaging 1.33 goals per game. They have the lowest point total in the Eastern Conference.

• A Friday, Dec. 17 home game against the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo has lost seven in a row and 11 of 12. Their 3.56 goals allowed per game is the fourth highest in the league. Their 20 points are fourth from the bottom in the Eastern Conference.

• Back-to-back games against the New Jersey Devils. On the road Sunday, Dec. 19. Back in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Dec. 21. New Jersey is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games, good for only sixth in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve only won three times since Nov. 13. Their power play is clicking at 12.7%. Only the woeful Arizona Coyotes are worse at 12.1%.

• A visit from the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Dec. 23. The Flyers actually have won their last two games. Before that, though, they lost 10 in a row. At 10-12-4, Philly has 24 points. Only the struggling Islanders (19 points) are below the Flyers in the Metro standings.

Meanwhile, the Penguins have won four in a row and are playing some of their best hockey of the season. As a result, with 33 points, the Penguins have scratched their way into what would be the East’s top wild-card slot.

So win ‘em all.

OK, how about four of five? Or at least total eight of 10 points. Is that too much to ask? I don’t think so. Not with how the Penguins are playing. Not with what lies ahead after Christmas.

The first two games after the holiday are against the Boston Bruins in Massachusetts, then a trip up to Canada to play the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Boston is right behind the Pens in the second wild-card slot with 30 points. The Maple Leafs have 40 points, tied with the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers for the most in the East.

It’s not just about banking points now for the Penguins, though. In a way, it’s about making up for some lost opportunities. The Pens lost to the likes of Montreal and New Jersey earlier in the year. They also suffered defeats to the Ottawa Senators (17 points, second fewest in the East) and Chicago Blackhawks (22 points, third fewest in the Western Conference).

Essentially, that’s like suggesting a goalie can take goals out of his own net. He can’t. Once a game is lost, it’s lost. So, technically, I suppose, Mike Sullivan’s Penguins can’t erase previous losses against bad teams with victories right now.

But it sure would be nice to avoid letting even more attainable points go when the opportunities present themselves.

It’d also be nice to see the Penguins accumulate a few wins at home. Four of those next five games are in Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby and company have only managed six wins in 13 tries on home ice.

Whoever the Penguins’ secret Santa is in the scheduling office, the best way to say “thanks” is to rack up 8-10 points between now and when the reindeer land on top of PPG Paints Arena.

In Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss the Penguins’ upcoming schedule, reasons for their improved play, staying afloat without Jake Guentzel and improved goaltending.