Pens Points: PLAYOFFS, BABY

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning...

Knowing what stands before them, the Penguins will surely be motivated to try and capture a Stanley Cup for the third consecutive year. And with that said, the Penguins play their best hockey when the stakes are at their highest. [Pensburgh]

Are you into the fancy stats and statistical analyses of both teams ahead of the first round? Well, here you go. [Pensburgh]

With the regular season finally complete, it’s the time of the year where end-of-the-season awards are handed out to players for all sorts of categories. For many players on this team, they were rightfully bestowed a great honor. [Pensburgh]

If the Penguins want to become a true dynasty, the team needs the next wave of leaders to step up and deliver. [Post-Gazette]

Sidney Crosby took the time to personally write a message for every one of the surviving members of the tragic Humboldt bus crash. [Post-Gazette]

Teams nowadays need four decently consistent lines to have a shot at success over the two-month fight for the Cup. The Penguins’ fourth line ready to step up to the challenge and grind of the postseason. [Post-Gazette]

Flyers bench boss, Dave Hakstol, claims that his team won’t be trying to get under the Penguins’ skin. [Trib Live]

Many veterans of the Flyers say the animosity of the rivalry is still present, and a few of the remaining members of the club vividly remember the infamous 2012 playoff series. [Trib Live]

Believe it or not, both the Penguins and the Flyers have a three-headed monster. So, how do these beats stack up to one another? [Trib Live]

Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire are ready to call Penguins playoff action after both men took on bouts with cancer. [Trib Live]

Casey DeSmith could play a pivotal role in goal for Penguins. [Trib Live]

News and notes from around the NHL...

USA Today laid out four bold predictions for the 2018 playoffs. [USA Today]