The infamous Game 81 on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ schedule has caused a very big ripple effect in such a short time as the must-win game turned into a regulation loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Even if the Penguins had won their final regular season game instead of losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets, another bottom-feeder, it wouldn’t have mattered after their tough loss to the Blackhawks. They were one point back of the Florida Panthers this season, but had five fewer regulation wins, which is the first tie-breaker.
This Game 81 loss to the Blackhawks kicked off a crazy series of events. First off, it ended a 16 year playoff streak by the Penguins that saw them not take part in playoff hockey for the first time since Sidney Crosby’s rookie season in 2005-06. This was the longest playoff streak in all four major North American sports. Due to the missed opportunity, Pittsburgh cleaned house including general manager Ron Hextall and Brian Burke. This also opened up the opportunity for the Panthers, which they took.
Panthers Are Where They Are Because of the Loss
The Panthers did what they could at the end, but they did require some help from other teams which they got. Qualifying for the playoffs by one point as the 17th ranked team in the NHL, they are now Eastern Conference champions and awaiting an opponent in the Stanley Cup Final. Credit to them for what the team has done in the playoffs, knocking off the best regular season team in NHL history, a very good Toronto Maple Leafs team that finally got over the hump, and the second best team in the league.
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The Panthers struggled all season and were in cap hell with past buyouts and bad contracts. Sergei Bobrovsky being one of them until he has earned his entire $70 million contract on this run. If the Panthers don’t make the playoffs, we don’t get to see a rejuvenated Bobrovsky and an even higher level of play by Matthew Tkachuk, further solidifying who won the offseason trade between the Panthers and Calgary Flames. Now a crazy stat is that the Panthers spent only 28 percent of the season in a playoff spot (50 of 190 days) and are the only team in the NHL’s expansion era (1967-68 and on) to make it to the Stanley Cup Final after being out of a playoff spot for less than 30 percent of the season.
Blackhawks Had a Win-Win
At the time with two games left in the season, the last thing Blackhawks fans wanted to see was a win when they were so close to finishing last place. The Blackhawks were +420 underdogs to defeat Pittsburgh in this game on April 11. Even though the Blue Jackets also defeated the Penguins in the final game, this win caused the Blackhawks to have the third-best odds at first overall pick and a generational player in Connor Bedard.
If the Blackhawks finished any lower, there wouldn’t have been any controversy regarding the actions of some former management of the Blackhawks that came out this year and being rewarded the first overall pick. Instead, Bedard would have been able to potentially do wonders for the patient and loyal fans of Columbus or the Anaheim Ducks.
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