Penguins Hurting Playoff Changes With Poor OT Play

The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently in the final wild-card spot and desperately need to capitalize on extra points. The Penguins have struggled on 3-on-3 overtime this season, and those losses are starting to be costly. 

The Penguins are currently 3-8 in overtime or shootout this season and 2-8 in overtime alone. It is not good enough for a team that is stacked with skill with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. This team has made several mistakes in overtime that have done nothing but cost them. 

Following a December overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Mike Sullivan talked about how he was unhappy with the team’s performance in overtime. Since he said this, the Penguins have lost three more games in overtime. 

“We’ve got to have tighter line changes,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got to have smarter line changes. Line changing is a big part of overtime. That’s one area where I think we’ve got to do a better job.”

The Penguins have missed eight extra points they could’ve had. With those eight extra points, the Penguins would be sitting in third place in the Metropolitan with 62 points and four points out of first place. 

One of the biggest reasons has been due to the line changes, at least per Sullivan. That was the case again against the Devils, and defenseman Marcus Pettersson took full responsibility for jumping the gun and coming out early, leading to the Penguins’ too-many-men call. 

Another reason could be that the Penguins have looked very passive and relaxed during overtime. The NHL wanted more aggressive plays and excitement with 3-on-3, and the Penguins don’t do that. They wait for the other team to make mistakes and don’t try to attack or be aggressive. It has worked for them in the past, but now is when they need to be aggressive and switch things up. 

Both teams they’ve beaten in overtime are games they should’ve won in regulation. It also took mistakes from the opposition to help them get to overtime as well. The Buffalo Sabres took a penalty in overtime to give the Penguins a 4-on-3, and Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras decided to pass on a breakaway to give the puck to the Pens. 

Nonetheless, something needs to change in overtime for this team. The Penguins need to start getting the extra points if they want a shot in the playoffs. 

Stanley Cup Aspirations Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.
  1. Stanley Cup Aspirations
  2. The Final Countdown
  3. Here Come the Playoffs
  4. Home Stretch
  5. Kevy Cooks

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Nik Shermeto

PT ‘23 | 🇺🇸/🇨🇦 | Penguins writer for Inside The Rink | Thoughts are my own.

Leave a Reply

JJ Peterka Traded to the Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth have acquired forward JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo receives Michael Kesselring and Joah Doan in return for Peterka. There were no draft picks involved in the trade. JJ Peterka will also have a contract extension in place as he is traded to Utah. He signed a five-year contract worth $7.7 […]

Read More

Paul Maurice Defines Coaching Legacy with Second Stanley Cup Win

“They need a new voice,” were the words said by current Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice on the day he resigned as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. Many ‘what ifs’ came to mind if Maurice had stayed in Winnipeg. Where would the Jets be now? Where would Florida be right now? So much […]

Read More

The Florida Panthers Journey To Back-To-Back Stanley Cups

Last year was a dream, this year was an achievement. Those were the words HC Paul Maurice said about the Panthers winning their second straight Stanley Cup. Last season, I recapped the several-year journey it took Bill Zito & his front office to build a Cup-winning team in addition to the Cats’ season-long journey. And […]

Read More