Penguins’ playoff streak ends as Islanders lock up ultimate spot in East
The Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs in Sidney Crosby’s second season in 2006-07 and put collectively an incredible 16-season run to carry the longest lively postseason streak in North American main skilled sports activities.
They reached the Stanley Cup Remaining in 2008, gained all of it in 2009, then gained back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017. They usually appeared to increase their postseason run after getting team-friendly offers to maintain the core collectively this previous offseason.
Regardless of a so-so season, the Penguins managed their playoff destiny this week, needing to beat two of the league’s worst groups to assert a wild-card spot. However they misplaced to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday they usually had been eradicated from playoff rivalry when the New York Islanders beat the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
With the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators additionally lacking the playoffs, the longest lively NHL playoff streaks belong to the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs at six seasons.
Why did the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff streak finish?
Wage cap woes
The Penguins stored the Massive 3 collectively, signing heart Evgeni Malkin (4 years, $24.6 million) and defenseman Kris Letang (six years, $36.6 million) within the offseason to play alongside Crosby, who has three years left at a $8.7 million cap hit. In addition they traded for defenseman Jeff Petry ($6.25 million cap hit).
