With each passing game, the margin of error for the Pittsburgh Penguins becomes increasingly acute. Their sluggish start through the first 26 games of the season did not help them in this regard and, even though they have rebounded from being 11-12-3 to 22-15-6, Pittsburgh continues to find itself outside of the playoff discussion with just over twelve weeks to go in the regular season. They are now five points away from a Wild Card spot and an increasingly challenging seven points away from third place in the Metropolitan Division. They do not have many more opportunities to play their division rivals and directly pull themselves within striking distance. All the Penguins can do at this point is try to keep winning and hope the teams in front of them all lose, but both of those things happening at the same time has felt very uncommon this season.

Losses like Saturday’s 3-2 game against the Vegas Golden Knights stand out for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that Pittsburgh had a 2-0 lead going into the locker room after the second period. Additionally, the Penguins had one power play opportunity in the game, sandwiched between their two second period goals, with one of Vegas’ main penalty killers, Nicolas Roy, in the penalty box, and Pittsburgh failed to convert. Another goal there might have gotten the Penguins at least one more point in the standings, but that’s been a recurring theme with Pittsburgh and the power play this season. Not blowing (the dreaded™️) two goal lead in the third period would have gotten them two points. When they lose, it’s not because the other team is necessarily beating them, but often because the Penguins are shooting themselves in the foot. Pittsburgh has a roster that should be enough for the team to make the playoffs without much trouble, but once again here they sit on the outskirts because they are getting in their own way.

I call these the dog days of winter because, like that stretch from mid-July to mid-August, no one really wants to deal with them, but they’re happening whether or not we want them to. Maybe you can go on vacation, or maybe you’re stuck where you are, but either way things are proceeding and it’s probably best to accept them in a positive way. The last time the Penguins played the Arizona Coyotes on December 12 (a 4-2 win for the good guys), it was the 27th game of the season for the Penguins and, even though the situation in the standings isn’t so positive, that was the point that things started to improve for Pittsburgh. Even though they have just three games between now and the All-Star break, it might be a good opportunity for the Penguins to reflect on what’s gone right for them over the past six weeks and finish off the pre-All-Star segment of the schedule on a positive note.