It could be a matter of desperation vs. preparation Monday when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Nashville Predators.
The Penguins (37-31-12, 86 points) are trying to claw their way into the playoffs, while the Predators (47-29-5, 99 points) have clinched a postseason berth.
Pittsburgh went on a 10-game point streak (7-0-3) to climb from several points out into the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot. But that was before Saturday, when all its competitors for that last wild-card spot won before the Penguins fell 6-4 at home to the Boston Bruins. That left Pittsburgh on the outside looking in and needing help to get into the playoffs.
Now Pittsburgh sits a point behind Washington, Detroit and Philadelphia, with the Capitals holding the second wild-card spot entering Monday. All have two games left, except the Flyers, who have one.
“We knew this was going to be a tough stretch,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We knew (Saturday’s game) was going to be a tough one against one of the best teams in the league.
“Regardless of where this goes, we still have two more games to play, and that’s how we look at it.”
Dejection didn’t seem to be an option, at least not a lingering one, after Pittsburgh lost control of its playoff destiny with Saturday’s results.
“We’ve been playing this type of hockey for a while now, and we’ve had to put games behind us pretty quickly,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “So we have to do the same with (Saturday’s game). We’ve got to learn from it.”
One interesting question for Monday is which goaltender will start for Pittsburgh. With the team on a roll, prescribed backup Alex Nedeljkovic has started the past 11 straight games. He got pulled Saturday when it was 3-1, and Tristan Jarry relieved for his first game action since March 24.
Sullivan said he made the change because he was “just trying to change the momentum for our group, see if it could give us a jolt.”
Nashville, meanwhile, has won two straight and four of six (4-1-1). It holds the first Western Conference wild card going into its regular-season finale Monday.
The Predators played their final regular-season home game Saturday, topping the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets 6-4 in a game that wasn’t entirely satisfying.
“It probably wasn’t our best and not always our style that we want to play,” said Nashville defenseman Roman Josi, who contributed two goals and two assists.
“Those games aren’t always easy, but we found a way to win. It was important for us to get a win in the last regular-season game here at home. That’s the main thing.”
The Predators spotted Columbus a 1-0 lead before pulling away, but Nashville coach Andrew Brunette didn’t seem to see the kind of drive from his club that he will want to get in the playoffs.
And now, for the second straight game, the Predators are playing an Eastern team they don’t face often and isn’t a rival.
“To get emotionally invested in these games is hard for our group, especially with where we’ve gotten,” Brunette said.
–Field Level Media