The Penguins’ playoff hopes were ended on Wednesday after the Islanders secured the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Canadiens.
With Pittsburgh’s elimination, the Penguins’ streak of 16 consecutive seasons in the Stanley Cup Playoffs came to an end. It was the longest playoff streak of any of the four major North American sports leagues, dating back to the 2006-07 season.
The longest active streak playoff streak in hockey now belongs to the Maple Leafs and Bruins, who each clinched their seventh consecutive trips to the postseason this year. The Predators and Capitals, both of whom were in the midst of eight straight playoff berths, missed out.
The Dodgers have made the MLB playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons, making them the new owners of the longest streak in major North American sports.
It’s a disappointing end to a season that left plenty to desire for fans in Pittsburgh.
Prior to this year, the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang had never missed out on the playoffs while teammates. The team had never missed the postseason during Crosby’s tenure in the NHL, though the superstar forward was sidelined when the team made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2011.
The Penguins controlled their own fate heading into the final two games of the season, needing to beat the Blackhawks on Tuesday before a matchup against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. They were defeated on their home ice by Chicago, during fan appreciation night no less, in what was a painful end to the campaign.
