Penguins' Surprise Playoff Run Defies Odds

0:00On March 23rd, the Pittsburgh Penguins have surprised everyone this season by grabbing a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite low expectations at the start, they're right in the mix with just 12 games left. Their captain Sidney Crosby got hurt in mid-February at the Olympics, and star Ev Jenny Malkin served a 5-game suspension in early March, but the team kept pushing forward without missing a beat. Earlier this season, experts pegged the penguins for the bottom of their division and a shot at the top draft pick. When the injuries hit, it looked like their run was over. Yet during Malkin's suspension, they win two wins, one loss and two overtime losses, showing real toughness against tough opponents like the Bruins, and hurricanes. Fans and analysts underestimated the depth on this roster. Defense Manair Carlson has turned his game around, looking sharp on both ends of the ice and pairing well with his linemate. But Anthony Mantha has been a standout too, notching a career high 26 goals and stepping up big with six points while Malkin was out.

1:03Both Crosby and Malkin are back in action now, with Crosby returning on March 18th and Malkin a couple days earlier. Players up and down the lineup have contributed, and that's kept them alive in this tight race. As the final stretch heats up, the penguins can't let up. They'll need every bit of that grit to lock in a postseason birth and prove the doubters. Wrong. From your team, powered by AI, this is NHL News Today.