When winger Jake Guentzel was knocked out of the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup there was every reason to believe that their playoff chances were finished. They were already facing a daunting task in trying to make up a nearly double-digit point deficit in the standings (with several teams between them), and now they were going to have to do that without their best winger, who might end up being traded before he returns to the lineup.
That was not what a struggling offense needed for any sort of a playoff push.
Add in Bryan Rust’s injury and it gets even tougher.