Welcome to 2024 where we again find our beloved Pittsburgh Penguins on the outside looking in of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. As of right this second, the Pens are just 1 point out of a playoff spot with 3 teams standing in their way: The Capitals, the Devils, and the Lightning. While that still sounds like it could be pretty grim, these are 3 fake teams that might not end the season ahead of the Pens and here’s why:
The new year finds the Capitals on a 4 game losing streak with a -18 goal differential. Father time seems to have caught up to the great 8 and it’s hard to picture a team making a push with Charlie Lindgren in goal. All the Penguins will need to do is outscore the Caps this year and most importantly Sid has always been and always will be better than OV.
The Devils are -4. Dougie Hamilton is hurt and has left a glaring hole on New Jersey’s blue line.
Akira Schmid is in the minors and the Devils goaltending is a mess. To make a run at the playoffs you need to have some sort of competent goaltending and as of right now, not even Jack Hughes can keep this team ahead of the Penguins.
Lastly we have the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are only holding down a playoff spot because they played 3 games more than anyone else and are just 1 point ahead of the Penguins. The Bolts clearly have some miles on their roster and don’t seem to have as much jump as they have had in recent years. I like the sound of that.
The Pens are a playoff team in 2024. Bank on it.
The Morning Skate 