Penguins Insist Numbers Still Don’t Add Up to a Lost Cause

CRANBERRY — It’s not that the Pittsburgh Penguins don’t recognize how perilous their predicament is.

How, with just 13 games remaining in their season, they are 28-31-10 and six points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff field. How they would have to hurdle no fewer than a half-dozen clubs — the New York Rangers, Montreal, Columbus, Detroit, Boston and the New York Islanders — to qualify for postseason play.

And how they’d have to do it even though they have played more games than every team they are chasing.

Impossible? Not quite.

Unlikely? That’s understating it.

Nonetheless, Penguins players — perhaps fueled by optimism rooted in their four-game winning streak — were adamant after practice Monday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex that trying to get into the playoffs continues to provide all the incentive they need as the season enters its final month.

“Our motivation right now is to make the playoffs,” forward Philip Tomasino said. “I think we’re playing really well. Obviously, we’re on a four-game winning streak. … I think we have a really good shot. Maybe a lot of people are doubting us, but I think we’re right there. If we just continue doing what we’ve been doing these past few weeks, we have a pretty good shot.”

The Penguins have kept their slim playoff hopes alive of late, primarily because of Tristan Jarry’s goaltending. He has been in goal for each of those four victories, stopping 120 of 129 shots and allowing just two 5-on-5 goals.

“The goaltending is obviously the biggest factor,” center Blake Lizotte said. “But we’re just jelling right now.”

While their penalty-killing has been subpar, allowing six goals on 13 shorthanded situations during their winning streak, the Penguins have reduced the number of odd-man rushes they are allowing and their defensemen have been getting the puck to the forwards more efficiently than they were for much of the season.

The Islanders, who will visit PPG Paints Arena Tuesday at 7:08 p.m., and Penguins are tied in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference with 66 points, although New York has four games-in-hand. A loss, especially in regulation, would further shrink either club’s already-miniscule chances of qualifying for the postseason.

While the Penguins don’t have any particular fondness for the Islanders, neither does that team qualify for a spot on the short list of their most bitter rivals.

Regardless, a sampling of players Monday suggested that damaging any opponents’ aspirations — whether it’s to lock up a top seed, home-ice advantage for Round 1 or simply a playoff berth — is not a significant incentive.

“I don’t really look at it that way,” defenseman Conor Timmins said. “Each day, we’re paid to come in and try to win hockey games. Guys have been super dialed-in, focused since I’ve been here, trying to do that.”

Intentionally or otherwise, however, the Penguins have potentially caused some problems for the four teams they’ve beaten during the past nine days. Consider:

*** Minnesota is struggling to retain the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

*** Vegas is trying to fend off Edmonton for first place in the Pacific Division.

*** St. Louis is tied with Vancouver for the second wild-card spot in the West, but has played one more game than the Canucks.

*** New Jersey is attempting to hold onto third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Wild, Golden Knights, Blues and Devils shouldn’t take those losses personally, though. In each case, the Penguins were more interested in simply getting two points than in hurting the team from which they took them.

“It’s mostly just that you want to win,” Lizotte said. “We’re all competitors. You want to play meaningful games at this time of year.”