Regarding an NHL’s team performance in the first quarter of the season and whether or not they have a shot at reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs, most call American Thanksgiving the point of no return.
Most teams that qualify for the postseason are in the hunt for that spot by late November. Either that or their chances are so slim that they should shift their focus to the upcoming draft since those odds are more favorable.
After 15 games on Wednesday night, everyone is off for Thanksgiving, with the Pittsburgh Penguins enjoying their turkey dinners thanks to a gutsy 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
However, according to MoneyPuck.com, that’s about all the team should celebrate over the holiday season. As the 28th-ranked team in the NHL, the Penguins have the fourth-worst odds of qualifying for the playoffs, at 2.1%.
The only three teams under them are the Chicago Blackhawks (0.8%), Columbus Blue Jackets (0.4%), and San Jose Sharks (0.0%).
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Moreover, Pittsburgh has the fourth-best chance of winning the NHL Draft Lottery, thanks to 9.4% odds. Unfortunately, this isn’t the position captain Sidney Crosby dreamt of when he signed a two-year extension in the summer.
Outside of shortened seasons, the Penguins have never finished with fewer than 88 points in a single season besides Crosby’s rookie season in 2005-06, when they had 58.
After their win against the Canucks, Pittsburgh is on pace for 73 points, which would be the lowest of his career.
