In a remarkable turnaround, the Pittsburgh Penguins have surged from a potential top-8 draft pick position to likely securing the No. 3 spot in the Metropolitan Division within a few weeks. This shift in standings is attributed to their recent performance, including a critical 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, propelling them into the second wild card position in the Eastern Conference, and officially knocking the Flyers out of a playoff spot. The Penguins' playoff push is notable, as they were facing a 9-point deficit just last week, marking a significant recovery. This potential playoff berth could set a record for overcoming the largest deficit within the final 11 games of the season. Their success is partly due to the faltering of other Eastern Conference teams, with the Penguins being one of the few teams actively seizing the available playoff spots. Sidney Crosby's leadership is highlighted as a key factor in this playoff push, with the team now focusing on their next critical game against Toronto. The Penguins last occupied a playoff spot on Nov. 14, making their resurgence more dramatic.
GAME DAY - @markhmasters & @reporterchris on what this playoff push has meant to Sidney Crosby, the Maple Leafs looking towards John Tavares to slow down the Penguins and if Auston Matthews can reach 70 goals: https://t.co/ZgRUXiyn0s https://t.co/6eUOyt8Y6G
Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Penguins look to move into 2nd wild card in East ⤵️ https://t.co/v6eNfCe2W3
87 and the resurgent Penguins in Toronto for another critical game in the playoff race. Morning skate ⤵️ https://t.co/darwr1sPL0
The second-last Saturday of the 2023-24 regular season has come to a close, a night that included the @penguins move into a playoff spot or the first time since Nov. 14 after sitting nine points out just last week. #NHLStats: https://t.co/zLkfOt3BOr https://t.co/Wg4wS4LURg
With a 5-4 win over the Lightning, the Penguins now take the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers are officially out of a playoff spot currently with a game tonight. #LetsGoPens also hold the tiebreaker over #LetsGoFlyers
I get that the Penguins' rise back up the standings is a cool story. But it's largely driven by the fact that every other East team in the race is in free fall. The Pens have had a good week. Props. They're also getting an absolutely ridiculous amount of help. Keep that in mind.
The Penguins are better than a lot of these teams they're competing with for the last spots. Eastern playoff race is going to be fascinating over the final 11 days. https://t.co/Kwq81QKfL5
The @penguins currently occupy a playoff spot despite facing a 9-point deficit as recently as last week. If they make the #StanleyCup Playoffs, it would mark the largest deficit a team has ever overcome within its final 11 contests to qualify. #NHLStats: https://t.co/zLkfOt3BOr https://t.co/6wD1xlhV7j
Penguins recover, defeat Lightning to move into playoff position⤵️ https://t.co/nK1UIUl4B7
In a span of a few weeks, Penguins have gone from potentially holding a top-8 draft pick to likely cruising to the No. 3 spot in the Metro. Nobody played like they wanted the last two spots available except Pittsburgh.