Penguins return to New York for critical games with Rangers
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The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins were in Madison Square Garden, things were uncertain.
After succumbing to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series — a power-play goal in overtime by forward Artemi Panarin supplied the hosts with a 4-3 victory — the Penguins answered questions they — like probably everyone else at that moment — did not have answers to in the late hours of May 15.
Was this the end of the greatest era in franchise history?
Would the core of the franchise return after another quick postseason exit?
Heck, was reserve forward Danton Heinen going to be re-signed?
“I’m not really sure,” sullen Penguins forward Jake Guentzel said in response to a query if this was the last dance for this group. “I haven’t really thought about it too much. You know this league is a business. But you just never know what’s going to happen.”
Approximately 10 months later, a lot has happened.
The golden epoch of Penguins history is still ongoing thanks to the core — franchise forward Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang each were re-signed last summer — remaining intact along with several supplemental components — including the aforementioned Heinen, currently enjoying a residency on the fourth line — staying in place.
But questions remain as the Penguins are scheduled to return to Madison Square Garden for consecutive road games against the Rangers on Thursday and Saturday. They are different questions, admittedly, but they also pertain to the team’s uncertain future, albeit in a more immediate, granular sense with regard to the team’s hopes for the 2023 postseason.
Namely, which version of the Penguins will show up in Madison Square Garden?
The squad that gutted out a resolute 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday? Or the group that bumbled its way through a clumsy 6-4 home loss to the lowly Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday?
“We didn’t have the same urgency that we had against the Rangers,” Letang said when contrasting the two games. “I just don’t think we came with the same attitude, the same intensity that we (had) against the Rangers.”
After Sunday’s triumph, the Penguins professed optimism over the prospect of surpassing the Rangers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
After Tuesday’s games, the Rangers (38-19-10, 86 points) have an eight-point advantage over the Penguins (34-23-10, 78 points). But a clean two wins — without any overtime or shootout points — by the Penguins could help their lofty ambitions come to fruition.
“We need the points a lot more than they do,” Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry said after Sunday’s game. “I think we were just a little bit more desperate (Sunday) and hopefully, that continues throughout the week.”
Easier said than done. Especially considering the Penguins are hardly an iron-clad guarantee to even lock up a wild-card seed.
“Lately, we’ve just been looking at the game we’re playing that night,” Letang said after Sunday’s game. “Focusing on our game, our details.
“It doesn’t matter where teams are in the standings. We need to climb, and we need to rack points up. That’s how we approach it.”
Note: Penguins defenseman Dmitry Kulikov was placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to March 12. He missed Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed ailment. … The Penguins canceled a scheduled practice Wednesday.