Kevin Gorman: With playoffs at stake for Penguins, 'difficult decision' is a no-brainer

By not clinching a postseason spot sooner, the Pittsburgh Penguins put themselves in a predicament for their game Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings.

If the Penguins had their preference, they would allow defenseman Kris Letang and center Evgeni Malkin more recovery time for their upper-body injuries so they could be healthy for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Then again, if Letang and Malkin don’t play, there’s a possibility the Penguins won’t make the playoffs.

“At this time of year, nobody has that luxury, right?” Penguins center Matt Cullen said. “It’s crunch time. If you don’t find a way to win one of your games, it’s a long summer and you have plenty of time to rest. So I think that we’ve been through all this and understand the urgency. If you’re able to play, you try to get back and play.

“In a perfect world, maybe guys would have a little more time to heal but it’s the NHL and it’s right around playoff time so everybody comes back as soon as they can.”

That’s a polite way of saying that everyone capable of skating is expected to play. Malkin has missed eight games since March 16 and Letang 15 of 18 since Feb. 23, but both skated in an optional practice Thursday morning.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan labeled Letang and Malkin as not just game-time decisions but “difficult decisions” the organization has to make in weighing the risks and rewards.

“I will say this: The priority has always been on the health of our players first and foremost, regardless of the circumstance, and that’s important to us as an organization,” Sullivan said.

“Having said that, there’s inherent risk in what we do. We try to make the best decisions with that in mind but we also understand that we haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet and that’s our No. 1 priority right now.”

So it appears the Penguins have conflicting priorities.

Their magic number to qualify for the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season is two. That should be attainable, whether it’s two points gained by the Penguins against Detroit on Thursday or the New York Rangers on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena or two points lost by eighth-place Columbus or Montreal.

But it’s not so simple.

The Penguins don’t want to just make the playoffs. They still have a shot at passing the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division and gaining home-ice advantage for the first round. And they also want to stay ahead of Carolina, Columbus and Montreal to avoid wild-card status and a first-round series against a division champion.

So, the Penguins need Letang and Malkin now more than ever. Not only do they make the team more dangerous in the offensive zone at even strength and on the breakout, especially with Letang’s superior skating and puck movement, but both are vital members of a power-play unit that is 2 for 22 (9%) in the last nine games.

The Penguins know they are better with Letang and Malkin, even if neither is completely healthy. And Sullivan said players “weigh in on the decision,” providing their personal input to the team’s management, coaching and medical staffs.

“Players want to play,” Sullivan said. “They’re competitive guys, and that’s why they’re where they’re at in the NHL. When you talk about elite players, they’re very competitive guys so they want to play. They’re all well aware, and they understand the circumstances and what’s at stake.”

With what’s at stake, the decision isn’t so difficult.

“I don’t know if guys want a week off at this time of year,” Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson said. “Guys want to be playing. If guys can play, they’re going to play.

“You can’t hold them back.”