Penguins analyst shares his thoughts on the current points system

Like last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are hanging on the edge of their seats, waiting for other teams to decide their playoff destiny.

For the Penguins to make the playoffs, they need the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens to pull off wins on Tuesday night. Then, if the Pens can beat the Islanders in New York on Wednesday, they're in.

They brought this on themselves. If they had held onto a two-goal lead against the Red Wings and won in regulation last Thursday or beaten the Boston Bruins on Saturday, they'd be in a much better position.




Yet, imagine if the NHL used a different points system � like the 3-2-1-0 one. Instead of the usual 2-1-0 system, teams would get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime/shootout win, and one for an OT/SO loss.

In an alternate universe where they used a different points system, the Pens would be sitting pretty. They'd be tied with the Capitals and the playoff-bound Islanders at 120 points each, all vying for playoff spots. However, reality is what it is.
Ultimately, the Penguins have to take responsibility for their performance. They had plenty of opportunities to secure their playoff spot, and they didn't capitalize. Now, fate is out of their hands.



It's a tough spot to be in, but hey, that's hockey for you. Anything can happen in these final games, and the Penguins hope it goes their way. Let's see how it all plays out!