The Florida Panthers begin a five-game street journey Saturday in Pittsburgh on the verge of constructing historical past. Solely this time, it is for a doubtful distinction.
The Panthers (37-35-3, 77 factors) are on the cusp of playoff elimination. Ought to that occur, they might turn out to be the sixth Stanley Cup champion to overlook the playoffs the next season.
Florida faces lengthy odds to get into the playoffs — the Panthers are 11 factors behind the Ottawa Senators for the ultimate Japanese Convention wild-card spot with seven video games remaining and 5 groups between them. However it hasn’t stopped the hobbled two-time defending champions from attempting to play spoiler.
Even with gamers like Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Niko Mikkola out, Florida’s modest two-game successful streak contains wins over the Senators and the Boston Bruins, who maintain the opposite wild-card spot.
“We’re attempting to make it possible for they do not get a straightforward one from us,” coach Paul Maurice mentioned after Thursday’s 2-1 residence win over Boston.
Sam Bennett has factors in three straight, together with a purpose within the Boston sport. With 57 factors (26 objectives, 31 assists), he may high Reinhart because the crew’s main scorer within the ultimate couple of weeks. Reinhart has 61 factors, main the crew in each objectives (29) and assists (32).
The Panthers might also get considered one of their injured gamers again for Saturday because the crew reported ahead Cole Schwindt is predicted to return to motion. He has not performed since Feb. 26 resulting from a lower-body damage.
Saturday’s sport marks the primary of back-to-back video games between the 2 groups, each in Pittsburgh. The Penguins (38-22-16, 92 factors) look to rebound after shedding 6-3 on the street to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
The Penguins, who’ve missed the playoffs in every of the final three seasons, at present sit in second place within the Metropolitan Division and would get first-round home-ice benefit in the event that they keep in that spot. Nonetheless, the New York Islanders are three factors behind in third place, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are in fourth place, however with 88 factors, they don’t at present maintain a playoff spot.
After the 2 residence video games with Florida, Pittsburgh will play at New Jersey, have a home-and-home with Washington and finish the common season at St. Louis. None of these groups at present sit in a playoff spot, however coach Dan Muse doesn’t need to see his crew ease up down the stretch.
“We’ve got to show the web page fast,” Muse mentioned after the loss to the Lightning. “There’s not going to be any straightforward video games. Each sport, every single day goes to have a brand new problem, and none of them are going to be straightforward this time of 12 months.”
Sidney Crosby leads the crew with 67 factors (28 objectives, 39 assists), however he has not scored a purpose in seven video games. His final purpose got here on March 18, his first sport again after struggling an damage taking part in for Crew Canada within the Olympics. Anthony Mantha leads Pittsburgh with 30 objectives and has six factors (4 objectives, two assists) throughout a four-game factors streak.
–Area Degree Media
