The day after the longest active playoff streak in North American pro sports ended, the Pittsburgh Penguins will take the ice with nothing on the line when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
The Penguins (40-31-10, 90 points), who will be playing their regular-season finale, were eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday when the New York Islanders (42-31-9, 93 points) sealed an Eastern Conference playoff bid with a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Pittsburgh squandered a chance to improve its standing when it fell 5-2 to the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
A win that night and one at Columbus would have assured Pittsburgh of a wild-card spot. By falling to the Blackhawks, one of the worst teams in the NHL, the Penguins allowed the Florida Panthers to clinch a playoff spot while leaving themselves awaiting Wednesday’s results.
The Islanders then took care of business at home, ending the Penguins’ run of 16 consecutive playoff appearances.
“No words,” Penguins center Evgeni Malkin said Tuesday. He had tied the game against Chicago early in the third period before Pittsburgh allowed two goals just 26 seconds apart en route to the painful loss.
“We should win here at home. We understand how important this game was for us.”
Journeyman Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek played the villain, making 38 saves. That included all eight shots sent his way by Pittsburgh captain and leading scorer Sidney Crosby.
Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang had teamed to win three Stanley Cups, but this year they will be watching the playoffs from afar.
Columbus, meanwhile, sits last in the league standings and has so many injuries — many to key players — that only 17 skaters were available to dress for Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss at Philadelphia when team captain Boone Jenner was a late scratch.
That loss, coupled with Chicago’s win at Pittsburgh, cleared a path for the Blue Jackets (24-27-9, 57 points) to “claim” last place and therefore give themselves the best chance — 25.5 percent — at the first overall pick in the NHL draft lottery.
Columbus has another game, Friday against Buffalo in a makeup game for one that was postponed by a storm.
Lose out, and the Blue Jackets can select Connor Bedard, the consensus top prospect, in the draft.
They are 1-6-2 in their last nine games.
However, the idea of tanking doesn’t sit well with Columbus.
“We know where we’re at. I’m not ignorant. I mean, I know exactly where we’re at,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said.
“But it doesn’t change how we approach the game. The way it’s talked (about) outside (the team) and by, maybe, certain fans or media, that’s on them. We go out (and) these guys are here to perform and play hard. We’re trying to win.”
Center Sean Kuraly was equally defiant.
“We’re here to play hockey,” Kuraly said. “There’s a lot going on. I’m not going to lie to you. There’s stuff going on. That’s the outside. We’re not oblivious, but the sole purpose is to … get 20 guys to win a hockey game.”
Assuming, of course, Columbus has 20 healthy players available come game time.
–Field Level Media
