Penguins staying in playoff race by way of success in 1-goal games
Feb. 26—When games with empty-net goals are accounted for, more than 70% of NHL games last season were decided by one goal.
It makes sense, then, that success in one-goal games is imperative for teams that aspire to finish with a strong win-loss record.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are the league's best team in one-goal games at 8-1-1. They have taken 17 of a possible 20 points in one-goal games. No team has a better ratio, and no team has more wins. Only one team has more points this season in one-goal games.
"The margins between winning and losing are very, very small," forward Teddy Blueger said, "so it comes down to the details and little bounces and executing, especially late in games. And that's something we have to keep dialing in going forward."
The Penguins have the second-worst goal differential in the East Division but have remained in the thick of the playoff chase among those eight teams (tied for fourth place in points heading into Friday's games) because they have been successful in the closer games.
Most of that is attributable to those contests that are decided after regulation. The Penguins have played in abundance of overtime games and been as successful in them as just about any team in the league.
The Penguins are 6-1 in overtime/shootout games (3-1 in those decided in overtime and unbeaten in three shootouts). Only three teams have a better winning percentage in such games, albeit none of those teams played more than three.
Only one team has played more games that went past regulation. Only two teams have had more shootouts, and only two teams have had more games decided in overtime.
"I think that just kind of shows how close our division is," defenseman Cody Ceci said. "There's going be a lot of those one-goal games. So the more points we can grab out of them the better for us. So far it's gone our way, but we need to keep pushing."
Only one of the Penguins' seven division rivals has a winning record in games that go past regulation.
Imagine if instead of the six extra points the Penguins have gotten in those "bonus point" games, they went 3-4 in overtimes/shootouts. That's three fewer points they would have and, most likely, a couple extra points for Washington and, perhaps, an extra one for the New York Islanders.
It would make the Penguins' playoff prospects in far more perilous, dropping them several points back of the division leaders.
"You've got to expect (lots of close games) with this season being the way it is," Blueger said, referencing the complete intra-division schedule in 2021. "Everyone is fighting each other for the same playoff spots, and you're playing the same teams a lot so you know a lot of the games are going to be tough and tight. It's tough to win."
The Penguins have won two of three regulation games decided by one goal. They are 2-6 in games decided by two or more goals (1-4 in such games that did not involve empty-netters).
The Penguins have a lone win by more than one goal that didn't involve an empty-net tally in 2021.
Forward Zach Aston-Reese attributes success in tight games to a defense-first mindset, a necessity when protecting one-goal leads late.
"We've harped on it a lot, not giving up too many odd-man rushes against," Aston-Reese said. "It's just (about) making smarter plays. I think you see that a lot this year. Guys have bought into that instead of being super high-risk and not forcing something that is not there."
Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .
