Penguins Renew Playoff Push With Big Win vs. Avalanche

Good morning and happy Thursday, March 23rd.

With only two games on the NHL schedule last night you would think there wouldn't be much to talk about this morning but that couldn't be further from the truth as Crosby and McDavid put on a show, plus the NHLPA players poll results came out.

And with 12 games on tonight's docket, there will be even to discuss tomorrow as we're in the final regular season stretch with the best time of the year — the NHL playoffs — right around the corner! 🙌

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter had been struggling to the point that a member of the media recently asked coach Mike Sullivan why he was still playing him.

Carter’s poor play seemed symbolic of the Penguins’ collapse in the playoff race.

But Carter ended an 11-game goal drought Wednesday by scoring twice to lead the Penguins to a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche. One of his goals was his 88th game-winning goal. Only Alex Ovechkin (124) has more GWG among active NHLers.

The win against the defending Stanley Cup champion ended the Penguins four-game losing streak and pushed them one point ahead of the Florida Panthers for the last wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins have been spiraling downward since early this month. Even with the win, the Penguins are now 3-4-1 in their last eight.

Pittsburgh has not looked like a team that owns an NHL-best 16 consecutive seasons in the playoffs. But the Penguins looked more like the Pens of old against the Avalanche who came into the game with a six-game winning streak.

Tristan Jarry made 28 saves to earn the win and that too is important because he had only earned one win since March 7.

Carter deserved accolades for the win, but Pittsburgh fans and players understand that the catalyst for the critical triumph was Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. He scored a memorable goal to give his team a 1-0 lead in the second period.

Crosby turned Avs defenseman Samuel Girard inside-out before planting a spectacular backhand shot past goalie Alexandar Georgiev.

It was Crosby’s 30th goal. He is the first player in NHL history to produce a 30-goal season at age 18 and after age 35.

If the Penguins get into the playoffs for a 17th consecutive season, he is the reason why. While the Penguins have struggled this season, he has consistently been at an elite level.

⭐️ Connor McDavid scores 60th goal of the season in OT to drop the Coyotes 4-3. The 26-year-old superstar scored his 59th just over five minutes into the game and thanks to a spinning backhand pass from Leon Draisaitl was set up early for a breakaway in OT that saw him ring it off the post. Fortunately, Draisaitl battled for the puck along the wall to give Connor another chance for #60 and this time he made no mistake, burying it under the bar. McDavid is just the 4th active player to hit the 60-goal mark along with Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, and Auston Matthews. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice and Leon Draisaitl assisted on all 4 of the Oilers' goals as Edmonton extends their winning streak to five games.

🗳️ The NHLPA unveils 2022-2023 player poll results. A total of 626 players took part in the poll this season with a lot of predictable results, but a few surprises too. Check out the full results here but here are some noteworthy highlights:

• Most impactful forward in a must-win game: Connor McDavid followed by Sidney Crosby

• Top goalie for a must-win game: Andrei Vasilevskiy followed by Igor Shesterkin

• Top defenseman: Cale Makar followed by Victor Hedman

• Most complete player: Sidney Crosby followed by Patrice Bergeron

• Most underrated player: Aleksander Barkov followed by Tage Thompson

• Best locker room guy: Marc-Andre Fleury followed by Phil Kessel

• Best ice: Bell Centre (MTL) followed by Rogers Place (EDM)

• Best NHL road city to have an off day: Las Vegas followed by New York

Connor McDavid scored his 60th goal in his 72nd game played this season. Since the 1987-88 season, who required the least amount of games to score 60 goals?

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• Bowness challenges Jets to find motivation as playoff spot hangs in balance

• Who will be Toronto's top six defensemen when the playoffs start?

• Canucks excited for what Hronek will bring to potential Hughes pairing

• Ekman-Larsson out for season for Canucks

• Could Orlov, Hathaway, or Bertuzzi have long-term futures in Boston?

• Boyle joins NHL Network as studio analyst

• What impact will the QMJHL's fighting ban have?

• NHL prospects to watch in the 2023 NCAA hockey tournament

• Russia, Belarus barred from next season's ice hockey worlds

• ⚾️ Jake Guentzel bats in rebound for 31st of the season

• ⏱️ Leon Draisaitl with perfectly timed pass to set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

• ✌️ Brian Dumoulin sets up Jeff Carter on the backdoor for his 2nd on the night

• 🎯 J.T. Compher goes high glove off Valeri Nichushkin feed

• ⛑️ McDavid banks #59 off Connor Ingram's helmet from impossible angle

• 2v2 point shot small area game

• Work on your agility, hands, and shot with this drill from VT Hockey Development

• Develop groin/abductor strength with weighted lateral weight shift

In the 1992-93 season, Alexander Mogilny only needed 53 games to score 60 goals 🤯