Penguins Playoff Chances Hit New Low

The Pittsburgh Penguins playoff chances have predictably hit a new low after Sunday's collapse.

Against the Colorado Avalanche on , the Penguins came out swinging. With Sidney Crosby leading the charge, they took a commanding 4-0 lead.
Yet despite the early dominance, the Pens couldn't keep the Avalanche down for long.
The game slipped away, ending in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in overtime.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Playoff hopes are on thin ice

Sure, the Penguins snagged a consolation point for the standings, but that's not going to cut it for their playoff hopes. According to moneypuck.com, their odds of making the postseason are hanging by a thread, sitting at just 1.5%.

March has been a rough ride for the Pens, especially on the road. With their latest loss, the away losing streak reached eight games. They now sit nine points out of Washington with just 12 games remaining.

With a 3-8-2 record this month, the Penguins have gone from Stanley Cup playoff hopefuls to eyeing the upcoming NHL Draft Lottery. The Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings are making their own playoff pushes in what has become a pillow fight between mediocre teams for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot, doesn't make things easier to digest.

The Caps are winning with a capital W, after back-to-back victories over the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets. They're sitting pretty in the second wild card spot with a 57.9% chance of making the postseason. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are hot on their heels, with a 37.3% chance of punching their playoff ticket. The two teams meet Tuesday in one of the biggest games of the NHL season thus far.

As for the New Jersey Devils (8.5%), New York Islanders ( 5.3%) and Buffalo Sabres (2.5%), their odds are dwindling fast. It's starting to look like an exclusive race, with only a few teams still carrying odds above zero.

So, while the Columbus Blue Jackets may be the only team officially out of the playoff picture, it won't be long before more teams including the Penguins join them on the sidelines. Unless, they miraculously can turn things around before it's too late.

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