NEWARK, N.J. -- It was this time a year ago -- March 23-29, to be exact -- that the Penguins were mired in a four-game losing streak, part of a stretch that saw them close out the regular season with losses in six of their final 10 games.
Guess what? The Penguins went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup.
Why would this year be different?
Long story short, they still might threepeat but these Penguins are nowhere near as deep as their previous two teams, particularly defensively. That has manifested itself lately in an exorbitant amount of shots against, goals against and a penalty kill that's killing them.
Over their last five games, the Penguins have been averaging 35 shots against and 3.5 goals against per game. And the PK has served up four goals on its last 15 chances.
After a brutal loss Tuesday to the Red Wings, the Penguins do not lack for motivation tonight. A win can move them another step closer to clinching a franchise-record 12th straight playoff appearance and they can inflict a potentially mortal wound on the Devils, who have a precarious hold on the second wildcard spot in the East.
Do not underestimate that last point. Judging by the previous three games in the season series, all New Jersey victories by a combined score of 10-6, the Penguins should want no part of taking on these Devils in the playoffs. With a win, the Devils can sweep the season series over the Penguins for the first time since 2009-10.
1. What if Derick Brassard can't go?
The center's health figures to be a prominent storyline. But the fact that the Penguins' big trade deadline acquisition couldn't finish Tuesday night's game, snapping a six-game points streak, is not very encouraging.
If Brassard can't go, the Penguins still have a pretty good security blanket in Riley Sheahan. Remember him?
Mike Sullivan has said that he's been trying to find ways to get Sheahan more ice time and this could be one. Before the blockbuster deal to land Brassard, Sheahan had been serving quite capably in the third-line center role but he's been relatively quiet since.
Since Brassard entered the lineup 14 games ago on Feb. 27, Sheahan has just two goals -- none in his last six games -- and two assists. He's also moved around the lineup, playing wing on the first line and the third, before settling down as the No. 4 center most recently.
On most any other team, except the one he plays for, Sheahan would make a good third-line pivot. He's defensively responsible, leads his team in the faceoff circle (54.4 percent) and has shown some pretty good offensive instincts when working with superior linemates, like this goal on a Jake Guentzel pass against the Blue Jackets on Feb. 18:
Obviously, the Penguins would prefer to have a healthy Brassard in the lineup. Having four capable players down the middle is why Jim Rutherford pulled the trigger on the deal for Brassard, but if he's out of the lineup for a few games -- knock on wood -- it's not a death sentence.
2. Play a full 60-65 minutes. Novel concept, right?
Whether it's been a matter of looking past non-contenders like the Rangers, Islanders and Red Wings and getting caught looking toward the playoffs, the Penguins have shown themselves to be inconsistent.
Nowhere was that more evident than the Penguins' last game against the Devils just six days ago at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins had, arguably, their best 10-minute start to a game this season and held a 1-0 lead thanks to Sidney Crosby's 25th goal of the season.
But the Penguins frittered that lead away as the Devils outshot Pittsburgh 17-12 in the second period, scoring three goals. Though they were able to mount a furious comeback, limiting New Jersey to just four third-period shots, to force overtime, the Penguins still lost. Just 27 seconds into the extra session, Taylor Hall scored on a breakaway thanks to a defensive breakdown:
Over their last 10 games, the Penguins have alternated a win with a loss. The good news is that, if this trend holds up, the Penguins are due for a win. The bad news is that they've lost their last two road games.
3. The Devils are more than just Taylor Hall.
OK, not a lot more, but they do have a couple players who have been major pains in the Penguins' side this season.
Most prominent among them has been Keith Kinkaid, a former Union College teammate of Josh Jooris.
Kinkaid was brilliant last week in making 40 saves, 16 of them in the third period, against the Penguins. The Devils goalie has started and won all three games against Pittsburgh this season, stopping 91 of 97 shots for a .938 save percentage and an outstanding 2.00 goals-against average. The Penguins' top-ranked power play is 0-for-6 this season against Kinkaid.
While Hall has received a lot of credit for the Devils' surprising success this season, and rightfully so, he has gotten some help from his center, Nico Hischier. The Devils have as much team speed as any and Hischier fits right in with John Hynes' uptempo system.
The No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft won't win the Calder Trophy but he's had an impressive first season. His 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) ranks sixth among all rookies. The 19-year-old scored two points against the Penguins last week, including this easy second-period goal:
Hischier has eight points (five goals, three assists) in the last nine games.
“He’s really responsible for a young player and you can tell that he’s got all that offensive ability,” said Crosby, the top pick in 2005. “I think he’s mindful of his own end and playing good defensively too. That’s always somewhat of an adjustment for a young player, but you can tell that’s he’s really committed to doing that. He’s definitely a two-way player.”
If the Devils are to end their five-year playoff drought, they will need him to keep up at that pace. For the Penguins, they have to do a better job against that line. That trio combined for five points against Pittsburgh last week.