NHL playoff standings: Is this the Penguins' last stand? - ESPN

After the trade that brought reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins, hope sprang eternal in Western Pennsylvania regarding the team; the betting markets weren't quite as bullish, but +2500 odds in the preseason for the Penguins to win the Cup would infer that the club would at least be in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, things haven't gone so well, and after the tough decision was made to trade Jake Guentzel ahead of the deadline, those hopes are fading.

Heading into Friday night's matchup at the Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), the Penguins' playoff chances are 2.4%, per Stathletes.

The Penguins have 14 games remaining, and their max number of standings points at season's end is 97. The Philadelphia Flyers are in third in the Metro Division and are projected to finish with 91.4 points; the teams in the mix for the second wild-card spot also seem to be within range, including the Washington Capitals (projected for 89.6 points), New York Islanders (88.3), Detroit Red Wings (87.6) and New Jersey Devils (85.8).

Then again, to earn all 28 of those remaining points, Pittsburgh will have to win out. While it has two games upcoming against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the rest of the Penguins' schedule is full of teams that are close to playoff locks (the Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators) or vying for those very same Eastern playoff positions (Devils, Capitals, Red Wings, Islanders).

It's not an impossible task. But the Penguins will certainly need to go on a heater — and get some help from those other teams still in the mix for those playoff spots.

As we traverse the