A week ago, Lars Eller might've set the mathematical stage for me.
At which point it immediately zipped right over my head.
"Have you looked?" he'd ask after the Penguins' stirring March 26 victory over the Hurricanes, an Eastern Conference contender that always beats them.
He was referring to the standings, which -- sorry -- hadn't drawn even a casual glance from me in forever. But I wasn't about to tell him that, so I didn't respond, hoping he'd just continue.
"We'll see where we are in 2-3 games," he'd fortunately continue. "That's all I'll say for now."
On the morning of that Carolina game, the most mercurial hockey team we've ever witnessed in these parts was 30-30-10, the definition of mediocrity depending on how one feels about all those failed overtimes and shootouts. They were fresh off a three-loss trip and, within that, blowing a four-goal lead in Denver. They were nine points behind the Capitals for the conference's second and final wild-card position. They had a dozen games to go.
The wild-card standings this morning after whipping both the Rangers and Devils, two other Eastern Conference contenders that always beat them, in the New York metro just now on back-to-back nights:
NHL
I know, right?
Three points out. With seven games to go, and the very next one head-to-head with those same Capitals, Thursday night in D.C. Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin with a season on the line and both still soaring into their mid-30s.
Also, not to be forgotten, the Penguins are now four points behind the fast-fading Flyers, the current third-place team in the Metro:
NHL
Either position would suffice, I'm guessing.
And to do what the Penguins did by turning a two-goal, third-period deficit into one ... two ... three ... four ... FIVE consecutive goals:
Heading into the third period down 3-1, the @penguins fired off five straight goals to take the win! 💪 pic.twitter.com/HjwJAOdJS8
— NHL (@NHL) April 3, 2024
Yeah, I'm speechless. I'll just shut up and listen to the smartest man in the room from here on.
• Our on-location coverage from Newark, N.J.
• Never mind the actual playoffs. These already are the playoffs, for all intents and purposes. And as such, Alex Nedeljkovic needs to play till he drops. He can get a rest this summer.
• But only after he's signed to an extension.
• I've been tough on Kyle Dubas in his first year, and I'll take none of that back. He's made some abysmal additions to this roster, and he received an awful return for Jake Guentzel. But I'm also at the head of the line to give credit for signing both Nedeljkovic and Eller.
• Who or what was keeping Jack St. Ivany in Wilkes-Barre all winter? Couldn't have been Chad Ruhwedel. What poise this kid's shown to date. Through the figurative roof at times.
• It won't be easy, and I'm not pretending otherwise: Capitals, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Bruins, Predators, Islanders. Not a negative record in the pack. But it's not like any of them are better than the Canes or Rangers, right?
• Not sure which might be more exciting for the Pirates' faithful toward the home opener Friday: Jim Leyland throwing the ceremonial first pitch, or Jared Jones throwing the real first pitch.
And I'm not kidding, for anyone who remembers the epic ovation the locals gave Leyland before the 1994 All-Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSmedia) April 3, 2024
Uh-huh. That. Should be fun.
And there couldn't be an individual more deserving than our city's newest Hall of Famer.
• To assess that the Pirates aren't as good as their 5-0 start is to assess the insultingly obvious, since they aren't about to embark on Major League Baseball's first 162-0 season. Just like Michael A. Taylor won't bat .471, Ryder Ryan won't lead the bullpen in strikeouts, and the defense won't keep turning a handful of double plays per game.
But if there's one above-the-norm performance I'm embracing, it's that of Connor Joe.
Of course he's benefited from the team facing all lefty starters so far, matched by Derek Shelton's decision to bat him at leadoff throughout, but he's also an honest 8 for 23 with four doubles in that half of those hits and half of those doubles have come against right-handers late in games. He's been smart, patient and aggressive when he's seen his pitch.
In other words, he's been nothing more than the best version of what he's long been.
“It’s really early," he was telling the other day with characteristic realism. "But I’m just confident in my approach and the type of at-bats I’m putting together. Productive outs. Finding the barrel. Helping the team."
• Plus, if Joe stays there, that might create the excuse needed to keep Oneil Cruz lower in the order, where his power would do that much more damage.
• Our on-location coverage from Washington.
• I've booked my own trip to D.C. for the suddenly seismic event Thursday night. Which absolutely had not been anticipated.
• My son Marko's flight just landed in Japan as I get to the final couple of bullets here. All's well ... except for the part where he's over there for four months. But he's happy, so I'm happy, right?
• Thanks for reading.
• And for listening:
