Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (39) makes a save in opposition to Nashville Predators' Cole Smith (36) through the first interval of an NHL hockey recreation, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Picture/Matt Freed)
The Related Press
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins are taking part in like a playoff group.
They’re all too conscious that it may not be sufficient to make the postseason.
Sidney Crosby scored his 42nd objective and added an help because the Penguins saved their playoff hopes alive with a Four-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday night time.
Pittsburgh improved to Eight-1-Three in its final 12 video games to stay one level behind Washington and Detroit with one recreation remaining within the race for the Jap Convention's second wild card.
The Capitals and Crimson Wings must lose tonight for the Penguins' common season finale in opposition to the New York Islanders on Wednesday to have any that means. If Washington and Detroit fall in regulation or additional time, Pittsburgh can clinch the NHL's final open playoff spot by beating the Islanders, who clinched a playoff spot on Monday.
“Clearly, we’d like some assist, however given the place we have been a couple of weeks in the past, I feel we’d have taken benefit of that chance,” stated Crosby, who has 23 factors throughout his group's late surge. “So hopefully we'll get some assist.”
Erik Karlsson additionally had a objective and an help for the Penguins, and Reilly Smith and Emil Bemstrom additionally scored. Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves as he made his 12th straight begin for Pittsburgh.
Filip Forsberg scored his franchise-record 48th objective and Gustav Nyquist added his 23rd, however playoff-bound Nashville let slip an opportunity to lock up the primary wild card Western Convention.
Juuse Saros stopped 34 photographs, however the Predators completed simply in need of their seventh 100-point season within the franchise's 25 seasons. Vegas can transfer previous Nashville for the seventh seed within the West by successful their final two video games in opposition to Chicago and Anaheim later this week.
“We all know we’re, however on the similar time, it's about being ready,” Forsberg stated. “I feel the primary interval wasn't 'prepared' hockey, however the second and third durations have been.”
The Predators made the postseason because of a 16-Zero-2 stretch between February 17th and March 26th. Pittsburgh waited till the final attainable second to offer itself an opportunity to do the identical.
The Penguins have been 9 factors out of a postseason berth on the finish of March and appeared relegated to taking part in the streak. Then got here a push that makes them seem like the group they thought they might be all alongside.
“I informed you earlier than, this group is superb,” Pittsburgh middle Evgeni Malkin stated. “If we play like this all 12 months, we'll in all probability make the playoffs.”
The Penguins got here out flying in a primary interval that may have been among the many Penguins' most dominant 20 minutes throughout their wildly uneven season.
A diving Crosby poked the puck into an open internet 7:02 into the sport. Pittsburgh's longtime captain — who appears so much like he's nonetheless in his prime at 36 — then fed Karlsson for a one-timer with 6:10 left within the first.
Nevertheless, it might have been extra. The Penguins twice beat Saros solely to have the targets overturned on account of goalie interference. The officers dominated that Saros stepped on his stick throughout a scramble that ended with Bunting discovering the again of the web. Letang's shot from the precise circle later within the interval was dominated out on account of interference from Pittsburgh ahead Lars Eller, who seemed to be proper on the fringe of the blue paint when Letang's shot went by way of.
The Predators rallied within the second to tug inside one. Nyquist's 23rd appeared to spark Nashville to life earlier than Smith answered 57 seconds later to revive Pittsburgh's two-goal lead.
Forsberg's flick previous Nedeljkovic with simply 2:24 left earlier than the second break made it Three-2. The Penguins have had bother shutting groups down for many of the 12 months, one of many fundamental causes they’re out of playoff rivalry with simply three days to go.
This time, administration held. Karlsson despatched a slick cross-ice feed to Bemstrom 2:42 into the third and the Predators acquired no nearer.
The Penguins lingered on the ice to signal shirts for followers after their closing house recreation of the common season. They're making an attempt to remain optimistic, with a playoff house date forward subsequent week.
“I've labored fairly onerous to get on this place and have an opportunity,” Crosby stated.
IT FOLLOWS
Predators: The playoffs, the place Nashville will attempt to advance previous the opening spherical for the primary time in 2018.
Penguins: I'm watching TV on Tuesday hoping for some luck earlier than they face the playoff Islanders on Wednesday.