The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up a four-game Western Conference road trip with a clean sweep, and while it wasn’t always smooth sailing, the results speak for themselves. They took care of business in Seattle, Calgary, and Edmonton with convincing multi-goal wins, then nearly let a three-goal lead slip away in Vancouver before hanging on late.
Credit where it’s due: Stuart Skinner came up big when it mattered most, slamming the door shut in the third period to preserve the win. That final stop capped off a road trip that not only added eight points to the standings but also reinforced what’s become increasingly clear - this team is rolling.
Since the holiday break, Pittsburgh has put together an 11-2-2 run, and they’re not just winning - they’re winning with purpose. They’re tied for the seventh-best points percentage in the NHL (.618), and their goal differential is right up there too, tied for sixth-best in the league. In the Eastern Conference, they’re sitting with the fourth-best points percentage and have carved out a four-point cushion over the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division - and that’s with the same number of games played.
If you’re doing the math, that puts the Penguins on a 101-point pace. And with the current playoff cut lines hovering around 98 points for a wild card and 94 in the Metro, they’ve done more than just stay afloat - they’ve given themselves real breathing room.
Now comes a three-game home stand with a golden opportunity to keep the momentum going. First up: the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, led by rising star Connor Bedard. The Penguins already handled Chicago once this season, putting up a 7-3 win back on December 28 - a game that helped ignite this current hot streak.
Bedard’s talent is undeniable, but the Blackhawks are still very much in rebuild mode. They’ve won just three of their last nine games and rank near the bottom of the league in several key metrics.
At 5-on-5, they’re 30th in expected goal share and 28th in expected goals against per 60 minutes. In short: this is a matchup the Penguins should be able to control, especially if they play with the same structure and pace we’ve seen over the past few weeks.
Saturday brings a bit more emotion - and a bit more history - as the Penguins host the New York Rangers for a celebration of the 2016 Stanley Cup team. Several familiar faces from that championship run will be in the building, and while the nostalgia will be flowing, the Penguins will also be eyeing two more points against a Rangers squad that’s currently struggling in just about every area.
The Rangers are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, and injuries have only made things worse. With Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin both sidelined, New York is missing two of its most critical pieces.
Even when healthy, this is a team that’s lacked offensive firepower and has struggled to drive play at even strength. The Penguins and Rangers have split the season series so far - Pittsburgh took the opener 3-0 in New York, while the Rangers responded with a 6-1 win in Mike Sullivan’s first return to Pittsburgh as an opposing coach.
Saturday’s rematch offers a chance for the Penguins to assert themselves and add another win to their push.
The home stand wraps up Monday against the Ottawa Senators - a team that’s probably better than its record suggests, but still vulnerable. The Senators have been undone by inconsistent goaltending all season, and while they can generate chances, they’ve struggled to keep the puck out of their own net. That’s another game where the Penguins should feel confident about their chances if they stick to their game.
Of course, there are a couple of variables to watch this week - namely the status of Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. Malkin appeared to be in some discomfort after Sunday’s win, following a bump on the bench during the postgame celebration. Rust, meanwhile, could be facing supplemental discipline after a late-game hit to the head against Vancouver.
Any absence from those two would be a blow, especially considering how well the lines have been clicking lately. Chemistry up and down the lineup has been a key part of this recent surge, and disrupting that rhythm could present a challenge.
Still, with the way the Penguins are playing - and with the matchups on the schedule - there’s every reason to believe they can keep this thing rolling. Four points from this home stand should be the expectation. Anything less would feel like a missed opportunity.