Keys to Penguins Playoff Success This Year

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Andre Curtis

Labatt Blue Beer, Dancing for a Dilly Bar, and ah yes, those sweet words from Mike Lange “It’s a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh”. These are just some of the things that signify Penguins hockey and exhilarate every fan around Pittsburgh and the world. For hockey, especially Penguins hockey, does indeed exhilarate.



In case you didn’t know, the Pittsburgh Penguins currently hold the longest active playoff streak in all North American professional sports, with 16 consecutive seasons reaching the postseason. The drafting of some guy named Sidney Crosby in 2005 might have something to do with it. The only time Crosby has not made the playoffs was in his rookie season, the only year he did not play with both Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. 

The playoff streak is an incredible feat that has also seen the Penguins win 3 Stanley Cup Championships. In fact, in the 55 years of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ existence, they have reached the playoffs a remarkable 37 times (that’s two out of three years all-time). There must have been some dark years earlier on (in the 1960’s and 1980’s) when the team rarely reached the postseason. Playoff hockey has truly/become a staple for the city of Pittsburgh in a way that most NHL teams cannot fathom. Still, while making the postseason is exciting in its own right, the Penguins and their loyal fans want championships. 

The Pens’ season so far has been speckled with winning and losing streaks that have left fans feeling a bit distasteful so far. While the Penguins currently sit in 5th place in the Metropolitan Division out of 8, they have played fewer games than all of the teams above them. The Pens sit in the last remaining playoff spot mid way through the season. Yet, but what is worrisome is that the Pens have not won a playoff series since 2018. 

They have come oh so close, something which I do not need to remind fans of. In the NHL, close but no cigar doesn’t cut it. The goal is always to see your team hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup when it’s all said and done. The Penguins have the talent to do that this season, but the ill-fated luck in the playoffs must end. 

One key to the Penguins success in 2023 is staying healthy. Currently, the Penguins are missing their star goalie Tristan Jarry, and several defenseman including off-season newcomer Jeff Petry, who provides steady leadership, experience, and size at 6’3”. Kris Letang is also out with a family matter but is expected to be returning soon. 

The final key that I’d really love to see from the Pens this season is the use of more young players in the organization. The Pens in the past decade have always been one of the fastest teams in the NHL. Now though, they are one of the most veteran teams in the league. Having a good mix of both young and experienced players is going to prove necessary come playoff time. 

For example, the Penguins recently brought up 22-year-old defenseman Ty Smith with the absence of Jeff Petry. When Petry returns, it would be nice to see the Pens stay with Smith and instead send defenseman Brian Dumoulin (who has struggled this season) elsewhere. Dumoulin has been a crucial player in the Pens’ defense in the past but has committed costly errors in 2023 thus far. 

Again, it will take a lot to go wrong for the Pens to miss the playoffs this year. They will be in the dance, but to continue dancing is the goal. Being less streaky, staying healthy, and utilizing their young talent is the key to do so. If not, Sidney Crosby could of course just do it all himself.