BREAKING: Penguins Clinch First Playoff Berth Since 2022 With Win Over New Jersey Devils
Despite outside noise, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Video Transcript
I am decently confident in these two right now.
With Artie, you know, that first goal that went in yesterday, I mean, that was just a seeing eye shot from Nathan MacKinnon.
No chance- Yeah for him there.
If you wanna be a bit nitpicky and say he could have had the second one, sure, but it was also a nice deflection.
He made some really key saves in that first period, and he was a rock all game long.
I thought it was a nice bounce-back from him, just because I thought his last start before that, Kelsey, little bit down, but he rebounded really nicely.
It's nice seeing both these guys really push one another.
You go back to the Utah game when Skinner started, two of the three goals I didn't like that he gave up, but he locked it down in the third period.
That's a difference when you compare him to someone like Tristan Jarry, where I think if Jarry's in the net there, they give up that deflating tying goal, and then they potentially lose in overtime or a shootout.
But Skinner, he has that experience.
He's played in a lot of big games.
You know, he has at least a bit of some history of locking things down when it matters most.
I know, y- y- it's not like L- I know it didn't happen against the Florida Panthers, but you look at the previous series before that, he, he has played well in some of those high-stakes situations.
I'm still curious to see who gets game one if they get in.
I said a couple weeks ago I was leaning towards Artie, but the If they go Skinner, I won't be mad in the slightest.
Like, you can go towards either one.
Now, I do think for the playoffs you're gonna have to probably pick one for at least a couple of starts.
I don't know if you're gonna go back and forth in the playoffs.
I, I think that's just a little too weird.
It's also unorthodox.
Usually a team just picks one, but if that goalie does falter, you can just go to the next one at the next game.
But I think you're gonna have to pick one at least to start the playoffs.
As we sit here today, Kelsey, I'm not really sure which one I'd say, 'cause I was saying a couple weeks ago Artie.
Now Skinner has played a little bit better by a smidge.
It's really 50/50 for me.
It's close.
Well, you mentioned unorthodox.
I mean, isn't this whole Penguins team kind of unorthodox though?
Like, would it really surprise you if they actually continued this tandem into the playoffs?
I mean, I mean, realistically, this has worked for them all season long.
Yeah.
so I mean, it, it Obviously in the traditional sense, you have your guy for the playoffs.
Whoever's playing down that stretch run, playing the better hockey down that stretch run usually gets those games.
And sometimes, you know, if it is a case like this where both guys are playing pretty well, one guy pulls, the other guy pushes, and then it reverses.
You know, that's kind of what's been happening here with both of them.
I think you gotta almost lean toward the experience in, in that situation.
Because I think people kind of forget that Artush Gilovs is still technically a rookie.
I mean, this guy has played in the NHL playoffs.
He obviously w- led Aber- Abbotsford to that, AHL Calder Cup last season, and that was an incredible run for him, but this guy's still a rookie.
Mm-hmm.
So, I mean, there's still not much experience there.
He has a lot of big game experience, which helps his case.
but you know, S- Stuart Skinner, you said it, he does have that experience for better or for worse.
he's been a little bit hot and cold in, in the playoffs.
But you know, I It, it'll be interesting to see how they handle that situation.
And obviously the Penguins have 15 games left.
A lot can happen in those 15 games.
One of these guys could pull away.
You know, they could remain even.
But I'd say, you know, if, if it came down to a dead tie at the beginning or at the end of the season, both these guys are playing well, I think you gotta go Skinner that game one start only because of his playoff experience and just, you know, he, he has more extensive experience that can serve you well in the playoffs.
But I mean, it's kinda nice to, you know, know that you have somebody that can, you know, fill in immediately.
You don't have to worry about a Louis Domingue situation, in 2022.
So- If one of them, one of them gets hurt, you have Sergei Mozyakin right there if, in Wilkes-Barre.
