As the Pittsburgh Penguins gear up to wrap their three-game season series against Tampa Bay on the Florida Gulf Coast this Tuesday, the pressure is mounting notably for the Lightning. The team’s recent falling out in Las Vegas, where they allowed the Golden Knights to establish a three-goal lead in the first period, eventually losing 4-2, has emphasized the need for a strategic shift.
Brandon Hagel, a key forward in the team, who contributed to both previous victories against Pittsburgh, expressed the urgency of the situation. “The idea is to kickstart a winning streak now. Postseason success isn’t a switch that we can flip on 12 games down the line,” he asserted.
For the Lightning, Anthony Cirelli, one of six players to have scored at least 20 goals this season, will be hitting a career milestone with his 500th game on Tuesday. Furthermore, Nikita Kucherov’s score during the game’s dying seconds against Vegas marked his eighth 30-goal season in his 11-year career.
Meanwhile, the Penguins, powered by the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, are dealing with their share of challenges. The team’s 11 post-regulation losses have proven detrimental to the group under Coach Mike Sullivan’s leadership. This was evident during their recent game against the Panthers, where they squandered a 3-1 lead midway through the second period, eventually losing 4-3 in a shootout.
Despite a strong showing, the Penguins were unable to convert any of their three shots against the Panthers’ goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky. This defeat, coupled with others, has pushed the team’s record to 1-6 in one-on-one sessions, with players like Rickard Rakell, Crosby, and Bryan Rust being thwarted by the two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
The team’s position in the wild-card standings and the remaining games on their schedule do not favor the Penguins. Even a hypothetical 10-game winning streak would only take them to 89 points, a figure that typically falls short of playoff qualification.
However, Bryan Rust, who boosted his goal tally to 25 with a pair of goals and an assist against the Panthers, remains optimistic. “The determination and leadership in this team are evident. We’re committed to battling it out and playing our best,” he stated. “Regardless of our standing or circumstances, we’re here to prove our worth and establish ourselves as a formidable team”.
Crosby has also been instrumental this season, with a team-high tally of 78 points in 70 games, followed by Rakell with 32 goals in 71 matches. After their game against the Lightning, the Penguins will conclude their three-game road trip against the Buffalo Sabres.
In other NHL news, the Toronto Maple Leafs, coming off a disappointing loss, will be looking to rectify their mental errors as they host the Philadelphia Flyers this Tuesday night. The Leafs will be seeking redemption after squandering a 2-0 lead in their previous game.
