One Major Factor Could Cost the Penguins Their Final Shot at the Playoffs
One considerable area of the game they're struggling in could cost the Penguins a chance at the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
The Pittsbrugh Penguins are in danger of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive year, which would mark the longest drought of no postseason for franchise icon and future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.
Following today's loss to the Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena, they remain in last place in the Metropolitan, three points behind the divisional and in-state foe Philadelphia Flyers.
They also missed out on several opportunities during today's game with the man advantage, failing to convert on a 1st period 5-on-3 opportunity and finishing just 1 for 7.
Despite their 8th ranked power play, it failed to come through when they needed it the most during the loss to Boston, something that Bryan Rust chalked up to being too "slow". .
I just thought we were a little slow. I don't think we were making the right reads. I think we were a little bit on different pages there. And [against] a team that kills that aggressively, I think [they] can kill the power play pretty effectively.
The Penguins are also close to setting a dubious NHL record
In addition to failing on 6-of-7 power play chances, the Penguins once again surrendered the game's opening goal on the first shot that they faced.
David Pastrnak's goal on Boston's first shot means Pittsburgh has now allowed their opposition to score on their 1st shot 13 times this year.
Only the 2011-12 Flyers have allowed more 1st-shot goals than the Penguins since the stat started being tracked by the NHL in 2009-10.
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