Neither the Pens nor the Islanders want to face the Bruins

If the NHL ever thought-about instituting its personal gate event, and they haveand the Lakers-Timberwolves final evening what do you may have It wasn’t sufficient to discourage them, so the Islanders and Penguins lately proved to the league that in the event that they had been pressured to face one another in a single elimination to make the playoffs, it might set the game again years just like the NBA does. occurred yesterday.

The East’s last wild card berth is the one playoff berth left open (the Jets clinched the final one within the West final evening) and Pittsburgh and the Islands have spent the week handing it over to them as moosylvania (well timed reference!). The eventual “winner” of this place, or the eventual possessor to be extra exact as a result of this has develop into a set of stale musical chairs, will get the pleasure of getting his spine used as a xylophone for 4 or 5 video games by the Boston Bruins.

The islands gave the impression to be prepared to simply accept their task final week. They ran previous the Lightning after which the Flyers (one way more spectacular job than the opposite), placing them in command of their very own future and even paving the best way to the primary wild card spot, permitting them to dodge the Bruins. utterly. . That they had a platter that appeared straightforward sufficient on Monday, a long-cooked highway date with the Washington Capitals. Simple peasy.

They left Darcy Kuemper (who if, Virginia, nonetheless alive although you forgot) he made 38 saves and Ilya Sorokin had a uncommon unhealthy evening as they spit out their lunch in a 5-2 loss. The Panthers additionally let the Leafs, already within the clubhouse, beat them in time beyond regulation later that evening, which meant that immediately the Pittsburgh Penguins had been driving the bus.

After which that rattling bus crashed into the mountain, to not combine metaphors

The Pens could not have had a neater matchup, two video games towards the Hawks and Jackets, two groups they’d fairly lose than take the lead within the Suck Onerous For Bedard Derby. This was about as a lot enjoyable as every week within the NHL might be.

Or so one would have thought:

The Penguins weren’t simply crushed by a staff that has a “Buddy” and “Joey” on the roster, they did not even come shut. The Pens fell asleep for many of the first two durations, then discovered Petr Mrazek an excessive amount of of a wall to interrupt by means of even after they tied the sport within the third. Right here is a few “protection”.

Even the Carthaginians knew that for those who give Andreas Athanasiou 5 minutes, he’ll finally discover out the place the objective is. (There’s going to be a hilarious research subsequent week in regards to the Hawks costing their whole future with this win and up to date play after they’re fifth within the draft, besides everybody else might be laughing too onerous to learn it.)

That loss not solely places every part within the arms of the Islanders tonight at house to the Habs, in one other sport that ought to simply be to fill out their identify on the SAT, provided that Montreal has nothing to play for. If the Islanders even get some extent, that might be it. The Panthers clinched not enjoying because of the Penguins setting their very own face on fireplace, and never enjoying might be what these three do finest.

Clearly, the stakes are larger for the Penguins right here, who not solely misplaced a playoff spot to the comeback-class Hawks, however in the end noticed a whole period come crashing down. Lacking the playoffs will formally shut the ebook on the Crosby-Malkin-Letang period, although everyone seems to be signed for a couple of extra years. They barely have cap area subsequent yr to attempt to flip issues round, and so they’ll have an awfully onerous time getting corpses like Jeff Carter or Mikael Granlund off the roster to begin extra. If Ron Hextall’s true cost was to tear down the Penguins from the within to serve their Flyer masters, you’d should say he is finished a hell of a job.

The Pens gave up a playoff spot to a staff coached by Paul Maurice, which is the surest signal that it is Shawn Michaels time. to kick them to hell forever.

As for the Islanders, they’ve the type of goaltender and play the type of boring fashion that may briefly scare the Bruins away. However that is nonetheless a staff the place Zach Parise and tennis balls on his skates is the third main scorer, Mathew Barzal might be nonetheless injured, and normal supervisor Lou Lamiorello could not work out that Bo Horvat would not proceed to attain with a 21 %. of the photographs of him like he did in Vancouver. It is a lengthy shot, to say the least.

And each the Penguins and the Islanders have performed like they realize it this week. Why mess with 4 additional video games of getting stomped within the mud when you may go house?

To trace Sam’s descent into insanity when he is pressured to look at hockey, comply with him on Twitter. @Felsgate.