The Penguins 16-year-run of playoff appearances is over. The longest active postseason streak among North America’s four major sports ended last night when the New York Islanders beat Montreal, 4-2, eliminating the Penguins from the Eastern Conference playoff chase. Tonight’s game in Columbus will cap a disappointing season and no doubt trigger some major changes, on and off the ice, for a team that thought it was ready for another Stanley Cup run.
The changes are already starting. The team yesterday put defenseman Mark Friedman on waivers again. Unless he is claimed by another team, which is unlikely, he will be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Pens practiced yesterday before they knew tonight’s game would be meaningless and coach Mike Sullivan said afterward that his lineup tonight will be affected by whether or not they have a chance at the postseason. Whether or not it will include Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Kris Letang is a question, although all three are healthy.
Sullivan says Crosby and Malkin, who have both played in every game this season, work hard to keep their bodies ready.
Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor will be game-time decisions for the Pens tonight after missing time with undisclosed injuries. Nick Bonino was a full practice participant too, but he has not been medically cleared for game action after suffering a lacerated kidney last month.
The airtime for the Penguins’ season finale in Columbus tonight is 6:00 on U92.5 FM and streaming audio at U92radio.com.
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