Sidney Crosby is injured and might not return until next week. Evgeni Malkin definitely won’t return until next week due to an incredibly stupid suspension. Hope for making the playoffs was dwindling. Everything seemed relatively bleak, with the exception of Crosby taking practice on Friday. Dubas acquired a large man but didn’t acquire any big help for the team at the deadline. The team was staring down a back-to-back with their most hated rival and a team that notoriously shuts them down even when the stars are in the lineup. The Penguins needed at least 3 points this weekend. They got them and they got them in thrilling fashion.

When Sid/Geno are out simultaneously, it is definitely fair to assume the Penguins are cooked. Historically, their winning percentage is actually better without them in the lineup though. One thing that is currently forgotten is Erik Karlsson is on this roster. It’s also forgotten about that Erik Karlsson is back to being Erik Karlsson now that Dan Muse is behind the bench. Karlsson has been nothing short of fantastic since Sid went out. Last week in the first game against Boston, Karlsson was a step above every other player on the ice, he followed that up with a potentially better performance yesterday. He also scored on Saturday against Philly. Yes, the Penguins are down two first ballot hall of famers, but they also have another one holding down their blueline.

Listen, the Penguins technically lost to the Flyers. It pains me to type that. However, the Flyers stink. They will always stink. They haven’t won a cup since 1975. Kris Letang played a horrible game and aided the Flyers to tying the game up three separate times. Eventually it went into a shootout which is basically a guaranteed loss for Pittsburgh against anyone. I would not be jumping with joy if I happened to be one of those scumbags in Philadelphia. The Penguins outplayed Philly, they did so without their two scariest offensive weapons. The lines were in a blender, and they had not yet thought to separate Girard and Letang. The Penguins ultimately getting a point was huge for their playoff’s successes. Obviously, if you are Penguins fan you want to punish the Flyers and their cohort of scumbag fans every single chance you get but their bottom dwellers this year (not shockingly) and the Penguins need to make the playoffs.

Getting a point on Saturday almost required the Penguins to come out with the W against the stingy Bruins. It seemed impossible for the Penguins to win after going down 3-0 in the second period. It was completely fair to think that considering the Penguins had not rallied from down 3 goals without Sid and Geno since 2001. Twenty-five years since such a comeback occurred. Now, it’s taken 25 years for the Penguins to acquire Egor Chinakhov. He got the comeback started with an absolute piss missel on a 5-on-3.

Eleven goals since the start of the new year. Insanity. Almost every single one of them has been a beauty. He’s going to shoot a puck through the netting at some point. Every single day it boggles my mind that Columbus couldn’t get him going offensively. If you iso-cam on Egor you would assume he is the best player to ever play the game. He has the speed, hands, and shot of a legitimate superstar. After a rather boring trade deadline, I think it’s fair to say that the best trade in the NHL this season was the Penguins acquisition of this Russian beast.

The third period started with the Penguins killing a penalty and down by two goals. They easily killed the penalty. Then a few minutes later casually sent Dewar for a stretch pass where he made a Malkin-esque spinning backhand shot to get the Pens within one. 33 seconds later Mantha tied the game. Then Mantha needed to tie the score again, he did just that.

Novak would finish the game off in overtime. Novak might have been the goalscorer but the work of Chinakhov is the only reason he got open. Chinny dogged Charlie McAvoy, forcing a turnover, and eventually getting the puck to Novak. In terms of forwards, Chinakhov has been hands down our best since Crosby has been out. He is ascending. I don’t care what his agent asks for, get him signed Dubas. On the overtime goal, Karlsson set a wonderful pick (definitely a penalty) allowed Novak the space needed to score.

So, the Penguins did leave the weekend with three points. Now, they enter their hardest stretch of schedule. Carolina (x2), Utah, Colorado, and Vegas. They might play them all without Sid. They’ll play three of them without Malkin. It seems scary but Erik Karlsson once dragged a mediocre Ottawa Senators team to within one goal of beating the Penguins and going to the Stanley Cup Final. There’s been a lot of talk about Crosby never aging and Geno turning back the clock, but Karlsson is doing it too. He is currently the best player on this roster and he’s finally playing liking the Karlsson of old. The Penguins have a deeper roster than Carolina, Vegas, and Utah with Karlsson steering the ship they might just have a chance to surprise some people on this trip. However, he might not be required to do all the heavy lifting because we should find out today if a certain guy who wears #87 will be going on the trip. If the team’s captain laces them up, I am positive that will give the entire bench a huge boost right when they need it most. You can spot the captain watching over his team after the game, patiently waiting to return and lead them back where the Penguins belong, the playoffs.