The good news for the Penguins was their win over Minnesota last night. The not-so-good news was that the two teams ahead of them in the race for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spots both won as well. Here’s Paul Steigerwald.
Coach Mike Sullivan says the Penguins played the way they need to play to be a consistent winner.
The Penguins will travel to Detroit to play the Red Wings tomorrow. The last time they played there, on March 28th, the Penguins were blown out, 7-4. Sullivan says they need to step up tomorrow afternoon.
The Pens welcomed Jan Rutta back to the lineup after he missed the previous ten games due to injury. Sullivan says Rutta made a difference.
Defenseman Mark Friedman has been fined $2,000 for embellishment for taking a dive when he was slashed on the knee last week against the Philadelphia Flyers. Friedman has been carried as an extra defenseman most of the season and was in the lineup last night paired with Jan Rutta.
The Penguins recalled forward Alex Nylander on an emergency basis yesterday but then returned him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
There are three games left on the Penguins schedule and they are currently one point out of the playoffs behind the Islanders and Panthers, who are both tied with 89 points. After the Red Wings tomorrow, the Pens play the Blackhawks on Tuesday at home and the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Thursday.
The Islanders have an easy schedule for their final three games, taking on the Flyers tomorrow, the Capitals on Monday, and the Canadiens on Wednesday. The Panthers have a tougher slate, playing the Capitals tomorrow, the Maple Leafs on Monday, and the Hurricanes on Thursday.
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