Pens Points: Jersey Bound

It’s no secret the Penguins have been especially subpar against non-playoff teams this season, but their struggles against the New Jersey Devils in particular has been rather befuddling. Through three meetings this season, the Devils are 3-0 against the Penguins and hold a 15-6 advantage in goals scored. However, those games are in the past, and the Penguins can make everything moot with a victory in Newark this evening.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on AT&T Sports Network.

Get your game day morning started with today’s Pens Points...

Sunday’s win over the New York Rangers was crucial for the Penguins, as it helped leapfrog them back into a playoff position for the time being. If the Penguins do wind up making the playoff once again, Sunday’s third period performance could be one of the major reasons why. [Pensburgh]

To make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, there will be very little room for error going forward. With a handful of talented teams vying for a spot, the current projected point total to make the playoffs sits at around 94 points. On their current track, the Penguins would just sneak into a Wild Card position. [Pensburgh]

Four goals in Sunday’s victory was the highest output by Penguins blue liners since 1990. While they won’t be relied on the produce multi-goal games night in and night out, they do hope to keep contributing on a regular basis to take pressure off the forwards from time to time. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

With 10 points over the course of four games last week, captain Sidney Crosby tied for the league lead during that stretch and vaulted himself to eighth on the scoring charts for the season. Crosby’s efforts in leading the Penguins to a 3-1 record over the past week helped earn him NHL Third Star of the Week honors. [Pensburgh]

Last week, the Penguins hosted their annual “Night of Assists Gala” at PPG Paints Arena. The yearly event helps raise money for local Pittsburgh charities and features players serving drinks to patrons or working as card dealers on the floor. This year’s event helped raise more than $450,000. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Sunday kicked off “Hockey Week in America” with the Penguins playing a major role in the event both on and off the ice. As a celebration of hockey in the United States, the Penguins play a vital role in developing the future of the game at a local and national level. [The Hockey Writers]

For all of his success, Crosby has never forgot where he came from. A native of Nova Scotia, Crosby’s attachment to his hometown is well documented. Now he’s giving back to the community who helped raise him, by taking a local pee wee hockey team on a tour of PPG Paints Arena and signing autographs for the young players. [KDKA]

News and notes from around the NHL...

Don’t look now, but the St. Louis Blues are the hottest team in the NHL since the new year and have suddenly pulled themselves back into the playoff picture. Credit for the turnaround doesn’t fall on one player, but goaltender Jordan Binnington has been maybe the biggest factor. [USA Today]

The NHL Trade Deadline is now just six days away and the rumors are starting to fly at a rapid pace. There are some big names on the market this season and there will be plenty of teams looking to buy as the playoff picture remains a log jam. Keep your ears open and eyes peeled in this final run to the deadline. [CBS Sports]

Less than two months after former Oilers’ GM Peter Chiarelli acquired Brandon Manning from the Blackhawks in a head-scratching move, Edmonton, left to clean up Chiarelli’s mess, placed the 28-year-old defenseman on waivers. [Yahoo! Sports]