Penguins Climb Back Into Playoff Mix on Five-Game Run

Improved five-on-five metrics are driving the turnaround into playoff range.

Overview

Pittsburgh is 20-12-9 with a .598 points percentage, tracking to a 98-point pace at the season’s midpoint.
Their 5-on-5 expected-goal share is up to 51.2% for the season and 54.8% over the last 10 games, with expected goals against per 60 down to 2.42 in that span.
The Eastern Conference race remains tightly packed, leaving the Penguins only a few points from both the front and back of the cluster.
A three-game stretch this week against the Devils, Flames, and Bruins begins a nine-games-in-15-days run before the Feb. 5 Olympic break.
Sidney Crosby produced eight points in four games last week and earned the NHL’s Second Star of the Week.