The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the final week of the NHL season battling for a spot in the Stanley cup Playoffs. But after losing to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, those chances are dwindling away. The latest 2023 Stanley Cup Playofs odds show the Penguins are left hoping for a miracle.
2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Penguins Line Fallas After Baffling Loss
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Penguins (+500) are now a heavy underdog to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The New York Islanders (-900 to make the playoffs) were the beneficiaries of the Penguins’ loss to the lowly Blackhawks, moving ahead of the Penguins by one point in the Eastern Conference wild card race with just one game remaining on the schedule.
The win for the Blackhawks likely comes as a disappointment for Chicago sports fans, as well, who are hoping their rebuilding season will improve their chances of winning the NHL Draft lottery and getting star prospect Connor Bedard. But the current Blackhawks team did not get the memo, winning 5-2 in a most-unexpected upset.
Now, the Penguins’ Stanley Cup Playoffs chances hinge on the Montreal Canadiens pulling out a win over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night. If the Canadiens somehow pull out the win, the Penguins can earn the final spot with a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan refused to talk about the conundrum a meaningless game would present, continuing to express his belief that a playoff berth is possible.
“We’re hopeful that we’re going to play a meaningful game,” Sullivan said, per The Hockey News. “And we’re game planning for that.”
Per Hockeyviz.com, the Penguins’ odds to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs would have spiked to over 70% with a win over the Blackhawks. Now, those odds are at just 12%.
The latest 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs odds indicate the loss to the Blackhawks will likely prove to be the dagger for the Penguins, who will be left kicking themselves all offseason long if that scenario comes to fruition.
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