SPORTS

Penguins Clinch Playoff Spot, End Three-Year Drought Tonight

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NEWARK, N.J. The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff berth Thursday with a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center, securing their first postseason appearance since 2022; Egor Chinakhov recorded three points while Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson added multi-point performances. Pittsburgh sits second in the Metropolitan Division and will likely face the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets or New York Islanders in the first round; Stuart Skinner, who returned to practice Tuesday after an eye injury, made 19 saves and Bryan Rust scored his 29th goal of the season.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Penguins sustained a 16-season playoff streak historically, with Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
Early-season expectations were low; BetMGM listed Pittsburgh as a 6-1 long shot before opening night.
December: team endured an eight-game skid and executed trades that added Egor Chinakhov and Stuart Skinner.
Since March 30 the Penguins won five of six games, improving postseason positioning.
Thursday at Prudential Center Pittsburgh beat New Jersey 5-2 to clinch a playoff berth, first since 2022.

Why This Matters to You

This is a comeback story for the Penguins, a team many wrote off early in the season. If you're a fan, it's a reminder that perseverance pays off. If you're a sports bettor, it's a lesson in unpredictability. Check out the playoff schedule and consider a friendly wager.

The Bottom Line

The Penguins have overcome a rough patch and are back in the playoffs. Their performance shows the power of strategic trades and player recovery. Worth forwarding if you know someone who loves a good underdog story.