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Penguins Face Senators Amid Defensive Slump and Playoff Hopes
about 1 year agoUS
The Pittsburgh Penguins return home to face the Ottawa Senators, desperately needing to tighten up defensively after a rough road trip. This matchup carries weight as the Senators look to solidify their playoff position, while the Penguins aim to avoid setting an unwelcome defensive record and build some momentum despite being out of the playoff race.
Key Insights
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Penguins' Defensive Woes: Pittsburgh has surrendered six or more goals in back-to-back games for the fourth time this decade, recently losing 6-1 to Tampa Bay and 7-3 to Buffalo.
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Historical Context: If the Penguins concede six goals against the Senators, it would mark the 17th time in franchise history they've allowed that many in three consecutive games, the first since November 2003. The franchise record is five straight games (Feb 1983).
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Senators' Recent Success vs. Pens: Ottawa shut out Pittsburgh 5-0 in their last meeting (Jan 11) and has won six straight meetings overall. The Senators are looking to strengthen their grip on an Eastern Conference Wild Card spot.
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Crosby's Milestones: Sidney Crosby recently set an NHL record with his 20th point-per-game season, surpassing Wayne Gretzky. He is also just one point away from passing Jaromir Jagr for the most points against the Senators in Penguins franchise history.
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Sanderson Shines for Ottawa: Defenseman Jake Sanderson leads the Senators with 13 points in 14 March games and is logging significant ice time (over 24 minutes per game).
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Why This Matters: For the Senators, it's a crucial game for playoff positioning. For the Penguins, it's about pride, avoiding a historically poor defensive stretch, and evaluating players for the future, especially with key players like Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson approaching milestones.
In-Depth Analysis
The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a precarious defensive situation. After losses where they conceded six and seven goals respectively, the team faces the Ottawa Senators, a team that blanked them 5-0 earlier in the season. This defensive fragility is concerning, as allowing six or more goals for a third straight game looms as a possibility – a feat not seen for the franchise in over two decades. The Penguins have allowed 6+ goals 71 times in franchise history in back-to-back games.
While the Penguins are on pace to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season (a first in the Sidney Crosby era), individual achievements offer some bright spots. Crosby continues his legendary career, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for point-per-game seasons (20) and extending his current point streak. Bryan Rust is nearing his career-high in goals and points and has historically performed well against Ottawa (19 points in 22 games, including two hat tricks). Defenseman Erik Karlsson leads the team's blueliners in points and is approaching the 200-career goal mark.
The Ottawa Senators, conversely, are fighting for a playoff spot and have had the Penguins' number recently, winning the last six encounters. Young defenseman Jake Sanderson has been pivotal, leading the team offensively in March. Facing a Penguins team ranked third-last in team save percentage (.889) and 29th in shots allowed per game (30.5) this season, the Senators' offense, driven by players like Sanderson, has a prime opportunity.
FAQs
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Q: What recent record did Sidney Crosby break?
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A: Sidney Crosby recorded his 20th season averaging at least one point per game, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's record of 19 such seasons.
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Q: How have the Penguins performed defensively lately?
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A: Poorly. They allowed 6 goals against Tampa Bay and 7 goals against Buffalo in their last two games before facing Ottawa. They rank near the bottom of the NHL in goals against and save percentage since the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Q: What's at stake for the Ottawa Senators in this game?
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A: The Senators are battling for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs and look to continue their winning streak against the Penguins.
Key Takeaways
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Defensive Watch: Keep an eye on the Penguins' defense and goaltending. Can they stop the bleeding against a motivated Senators team?
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Crosby Watch: Witness history in the making as Sidney Crosby continues his record-setting season and chases another franchise milestone against Ottawa.
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Sanderson's Impact: Observe how Ottawa's young defenseman, Jake Sanderson, influences the game, given his recent offensive surge and high ice time.
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Playoff Implications: Understand that this game is critical for Ottawa's playoff aspirations.
Discussion
The Penguins are struggling defensively, while the Senators are pushing for the playoffs. Can Pittsburgh turn things around at home, or will Ottawa continue their dominance in this matchup?
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