
For the 16th year in a row, the Pittsburgh Penguins have secured a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, giving them yet another chance to compete for the championship.
By far, their remarkable streak surpasses all others in terms of consecutive postseason appearances. Washington and Nashville, on the other hand, are the next closest franchises and are likely to secure their eighth consecutive playoff berths.
Pittsburgh is far from reaching the all-time record held by the Boston Bruins. The Bruins achieved an impressive 29 consecutive playoff qualifications, spanning from the late 1960s to the 1990s.
Despite securing their spot, the Pens are still capable of shifting positions in the standings as they only have a few games remaining on the schedule.
Currently, the Penguins are occupying the third and last playoff spot in the Metro Division. Nevertheless, the team is evenly matched with Washington, both having accumulated 97 points from 77 games thus far.
While it may not be the most undesirable outcome, landing in one of the Wild Cards could potentially lead to facing the formidable top-seeded Florida Panthers.
As the regular season draws to a close, it’s time to analyze the NHL postseason odds provided by West Virginia sportsbooks, with just a week left on the clock.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2022 playoff outlook
As of now, if the season were to conclude, Pittsburgh would be pitted against the New York Rangers in the first round. Both teams are currently tied with 106 points, along with Carolina, leading the division. However, some rearrangements are still expected.
Sidney Crosby and his team have not been faring well despite being in the game. They have only managed to secure victories in four out of their last 13 matches, resulting in a decline in their standings.
Three out of the last five games are favorable for Pittsburgh as they face Detroit, Philadelphia, and Columbus, who have all been eliminated from playoff contention. The only challenging matches are against Boston and Edmonton.
Securing the Pens’ current spot and reducing their burden in the first round, this could be helpful. However, if they truly aim to progress, they need to improve their overall performance.
The veteran team can find solace in the fact that shootouts do not determine the outcome of playoffs. Following Pittsburgh’s recent loss to the Islanders in overtime, their record in shootouts dropped to 3-7.
There is some more positive news to share, as the leader Crosby appears to be in great form. Over the course of three recent games, he managed to accumulate a total of eight points, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
Despite playing in seven fewer games, he has managed to secure a slight lead for tops on the team in points at 80 for the year. This puts him two points ahead of winger Jake Guentzel, who currently has 78 points.
Unfortunately, there is some unfortunate news to report. Goalie Tristan Jarry has sustained a foot injury resulting in a broken bone, and as a result, he has been placed on the injury report as week-to-week.
This implies that Pittsburgh is dependent on their backup goalie, Casey DeSmith, who has had inconsistent performance throughout the season. In recent months, DeSmith has only won 2 out of 5 starts, although it is worth noting that not all of the losses can be solely attributed to him.
In Pittsburgh’s most recent defeat against Boston, DeSmith successfully defended against 27 out of 29 shots. His performance this year has resulted in a record of 8 wins, 5 losses, and 5 ties, accompanied by a 2.89 goals-against average.
Stanley Cup odds at WV sportsbooks
The Penguins will conclude their season on Friday, April 29, hosting the Blue Jackets. While the team’s ranking in the playoffs might fluctuate, possibly affecting the betting odds at WV sportsbooks, it is expected that today’s odds will remain relatively unchanged by the end of the season.
At present, the DraftKings WV Sportsbook ranks Pittsburgh at the 10th position in terms of odds to win the cup. The odds offered for Pittsburgh are +1800, indicating a considerable gap from the leading contenders.
Colorado (+350) and Florida (+550) are in a league of their own within the online sportsbook, standing out from the rest of the teams in the next grouping.
Calgary and Toronto lead the collection with odds of +900, followed by Tampa Bay at +1100 and Carolina at +1200. Pittsburgh is only surpassed by the Rangers, Boston, and Minnesota, each having odds of +1600.
In addition, Pittsburgh fans also have the option to approach their future actions differently. DraftKings presents an opportunity to place bets on the winner of each conference.
The odds for the Pens to advance out of the East are set at +850.
The NHL playoffs are known for their unpredictability, which adds to the excitement of the game. The level of talent among postseason teams is relatively similar, making every series up for grabs from the beginning. This gives the Penguins and their fans a glimmer of hope.
With high hopes, the team aims to hit their stride in the final stretch and create a stir in the playoffs. The performance of the goaltenders, particularly DeSmith, and any updates on Jarry’s health will play a significant role and should be closely monitored.