The week forward: Large video games forward for Penguins earlier than Olympic break

There have been some sketchy moments over the previous two video games, however the Pittsburgh Penguins stored their successful streak going this previous week with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night time and a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon. The week received off to a rocky begin with a sloppy first interval in opposition to the Blackhawks earlier than they flipped the swap and completely steamrolled them over the remaining 40 minutes. Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Rangers was just about the precise reverse as they dominated the primary 44 minutes and jumped out to a 5-1 lead, earlier than having to cling to a one-goal lead within the closing seconds after permitting 4 third interval objectives.

The third interval objectives in opposition to are regarding given what this crew has accomplished beforehand this season, however they nonetheless managed to get the 2 factors. They enter this week having gained six video games in a row, seven of their previous eight video games and have at the least one level in every of their previous 9 video games. That has them sitting on Monday with the sixth-best factors share in your entire NHL and the third-best factors share within the Eastern Conference.

Lately, they’ve accomplished what you’ll count on an excellent crew to do and beat up on groups under them within the standings.

This week the schedule will get somewhat bit more durable with three fairly important video games in opposition to potential Eastern Conference playoff contenders as they go into the Olympic break.

The week begins on Monday night time, at house, in opposition to the Ottawa Senators.

From a file and standings perspective, the Senators have been one of many extra disappointing groups within the NHL this season having gone from a playoff spot in 2024-25, to a crew that’s struggling to remain in rivalry. But their file can also be somewhat deceptive and never an excellent reflection of the best way the crew has performed.

There won’t be a crew within the NHL that has been damage by goaltending greater than them.

Ottawa is a top-10 goal-scoring crew this season (ninth within the NHL at 3.33 objectives per sport) with a 54.01 p.c anticipated objectives share throughout 5-on-5 play (fourth-best within the NHL). They do quite a lot of issues nicely, and have usually managed the tempo of play of their video games.

They simply cannot get a save. From anyone. The Senators enter play on Monday with an all-situations crew save share of simply .868, which is thirty second out of 32 groups within the NHL. With even ample or league common goaltending this may be a playoff crew once more. This just isn’t a sport to be taken evenly, particularly with the Senators coming in having gained three video games in a row, outscoring their opponents by a 16-4 margin. It can also be value noting that two of these wins have been in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche.

They are able to taking part in very nicely. Lately, they’re. They are additionally lastly getting some saves. Ottawa gained the primary assembly this season by a 4-0 margin, in Ottawa, again in December.

The Penguins then have a fast turnaround with a back-to-back scenario on Tuesday night time after they journey to Long Island for a large sport in opposition to the New York Islanders.

The Islanders are proper behind the Penguins for the second spot within the Metropolitan Division.

Entering play on Monday, the Penguins are two factors forward of the Islanders for that second spot with two video games in hand.

The Islanders additionally play on Monday night time in opposition to the Washington Capitals (at Washington), so each groups might be taking part in the second half of a back-to-back with journey. That helps even issues out for each groups.

The outcomes of Monday’s video games may actually change the stakes for that Tuesday sport on Long Island.

A Penguins win, mixed with an Islanders loss, would give the Penguins a four-point lead over the Islanders going into Tuesday’s sport (with nonetheless two video games in hand) and provides them an opportunity to take a very commanding lead in that race for the second spot within the Metropolitan Division.

A Penguins loss on Monday, mixed with an Islanders win, would draw the Islanders even by way of complete factors and provides them an opportunity to maneuver forward on Tuesday with a win.

There is probably rather a lot taking place there.

This Islanders crew can also be successful in essentially the most New York Islanders approach possible. They do not likely do something notably nicely. They will not be an excellent offensive crew. They are thirty second out of 32 groups in anticipated objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play. They are twenty ninth within the NHL in anticipated objective share throughout 5-on-5 play.

So how are they successful and staying within the race? It is the goaltending. Ilya Sorokin is taking part in out of his thoughts, and after a few down years (by his requirements, anyway) he’s again to taking part in like one of many actually elite goalies within the NHL.

They even have Matthew Schaefer. The No. 1 total choose has stepped proper into the NHL and made an virtually unbelievable impression. We actually haven’t seen an 18-year-old defenseman impression video games and a crew the best way he has in a long time. If ever. He is legit. He is the true deal. The Penguins gained the primary assembly of the season by a 4-3 margin of their house opener.

The Penguins then shut out their pre-Olympic break schedule on Thursday with a highway sport on the Buffalo Sabres. It was not even two months in the past that sport seemed like a possible win that you might pencil in given how dangerous the Sabres began the season and the way they seemed like each different Sabres crew from the previous 14-15 years. Lately, although, they’ve been one of many hottest and finest groups within the league, appear like a playoff crew, and are taking part in like a playoff crew. That just isn’t going to be a simple sport.

Not solely is Buffalo taking part in exceptionally nicely, it additionally has some actually high-level gamers that may take over video games in ahead Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. The Penguins gained the primary assembly of the season in opposition to the Sabres, in Pittsburgh, but it surely was not one among their crisper or cleaner video games.

This goes to be a difficult week, not solely by way of opponent, but additionally due to occurring the highway and having one other back-to-back scenario. The excellent news: They may have Bryan Rust again for Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Islanders, even when that creates a lineup crunch that can most likely take Rutger McGroarty out of the lineup. If the Penguins can get three or 4 factors out of this week, that will be a wonderful consequence and actually hold their momentum going into the Olympic break and hold them in an excellent place within the Eastern Conference playoff race.