The Pittsburgh Penguins could be the last team standing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be quite the spectacle. Usually, the NHL’s postseason is already the most exciting postseason in all of sports. But this year, it’ll be even crazier and more unpredictable than usual thanks to an expanded format. The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the 24 teams in the postseason. And they might be able to make quite a bit of noise in the postseason.
Since the Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, they’ve been trending downwards. In 2018, they lost to the Washington Capitals in the second round, and in 2019, they got swept in the first round by the New York Islanders. But this season, the Penguins have a team good enough to make an extended run.
While the Stanley Cup Playoffs are unpredictable and anything can happen, the Pens have everything it takes to make a serious run at the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup and the fourth of the Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin era. Let’s take a look at why the Penguins should be feared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
1. They’re Healthy
The Penguins have suffered countless injuries so far this season. They’ve played 69 games this season. Just two of their players (Marcus Pettersson and Teddy Blueger) have played in all of them and only seven of their players have played in at least 60. That’s tied for the fewest number of players to appear in at least 60 games in the NHL this season.
Champions must overcome adversity and the Penguins have certainly had to do that this season. They haven’t been able to ice their best possible lineup since at least early October. Since the third game of the season, at least one of Jake Guenztel, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin has been out due to injuries.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has given the Penguins a chance to rest up and get back to full health. They’ve had trouble staying healthy this season, but if they can stay healthy, they’re going to be a very dangerous team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.