Penguins’ Locker Room: Why They Still Believe (+)

It is, by almost any measure, a pretty modest accomplishment for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And, quite possibly, a temporary one.

But for a group that seemed intent on self-immolation for much of the first third of this season, grabbing a share of a wild-card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference is not inconsequential. It also is reason for the Penguins to feel that they might be capable of more in the months ahead.

They have won five of their past six games, climbing into a tie with Philadelphia and Tampa Bay for the second wild card in the East. Although that could change before this day is over because both the Lightning and Flyers have games, the Penguins are accumulating points at a pace that would have defied belief a couple of weeks ago.

“I think we’ve responded really well to the start we had,” said winger Michael Bunting, who scored the game-winner in the Penguins’ 5-2 victory against Toronto Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. “It obviously wasn’t what we wanted, but we know what we’re capable of in here. When we play the right way, it shows that we can play with anybody. We just want to keep building off that and, hopefully, make a push here.”