The Penguins have been eliminated from the playoffs early the third consecutive season now and it's gotten worse. In 2010 They won the opening series against Ottawa and then lost in Game 7 to the Canadiens, in Pittsbugh. In 2011 they lost in the first round to Tampa Bay in Game 7 at the Civic arena. And we know what happened this year in only 6 games.
In those three seasons they finished 2nd, 2nd and 2nd in the Atlantic Division but ranked 4th in the playoffs due to the stupid rule that awards a team that wins it's division now less than 3rd place in the playoff rankings. The first two season it was New Jersey winning the division that left them wallowing in 4th. This year it was the Rangers.
The Penguins accumulated 101, 106 and 108 points in the 2010, 2001, and 2012 seasons those being their 6th, 3rd and 2nd highest point totals ever, respectively. The Penguins have accumulated over 100 points a total of seven times in their history with 119 being the highest, in 1993.
They lost in the first round in three consecutive only one other time, in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Those seasons they accumulated only 73, 73, 75 points, respectively, and only finished 3rd, 4th and 4th in the division. Back them those preliminary series were only 5 games long and they lost all three by a count of 3-2 to Boston, St. Louis and The Islanders , respectively.
Their downfall this year was the final 10 games where they were 6-4. The four losses were TWICE to the Islanders once to the Senators and once to the Flyers (when the game meant something). Three of their wins were against the Predators, Devils and Sabres. The three other were against teams to which the game meant nothing in the playoff standings at the time; The Rangers, The Bruins and the Flyers. Prior to those 10 games the Penguins almost couldn't be beaten. After them, including the playoffs, they were 8-8 and still sinking.
As my wife is fond of saying,"It's not how you start, it's how you finish." The last three season the Penguins have SUCKED as finishers.
