Sullivan: 'Margin for error is small' as Penguins' playoff odds shrink

Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan has plenty of playoff experience under his belt, and he sees a few parallels between a series deficit in the postseason and Pittsburgh's current fight for a wild-card spot.

"I think there are similarities because, to a certain extent, your backs are up against a wall," he said following Thursday's practice. "You know the runway is short and you know the margin for error is small. We've gotta bring our best each and every night to give ourselves a chance.

"That's where we're at right now, that's where we've been for a while. ... Everyone involved is well aware of the circumstance that we're in."

The Penguins are nine points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but Pittsburgh has two games in hand.

It'll take a mighty push from Sullivan's squad to avoid missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as it only has a 3.1% chance of squeaking in, per MoneyPuck.

Lars Eller said the Penguins will need to see if they have the chops to play at the level outlined by his head coach.

"You know you probably need (to win) 10 out of 12," the veteran forward said, per The Athletic's Rob Rossi. "It's gonna test all of us. ... Can we keep the urgency up every single game? Do we have the mental fortitude to do that? That's what we're going to see - if we're made for it going down the stretch."

Pittsburgh's first test comes in the form of a pair of road games against the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche - two top contenders from the Central Division. That isn't great news for the Penguins, who are 12-16-5 away from home this season.

After that, Pittsburgh will have 12 games remaining on its schedule. Seven of those contests are against teams who currently hold a playoff spot, while another is against the Washington Capitals, who are pushing the Red Wings in the wild-card race.

Making the postseason won't be easy, but captain Sidney Crosby is hopeful that the fight will bring out "the best" in the Penguins.

"A playoff mentality is a great way to approach it," he said. "You see a lot of teams that are playing desperate, urgent hockey at the end of the season, and they go on runs in the playoffs because that level becomes their norm - there's not a lot of adjustment.

"You never want to be in this position. But sometimes this position brings it out of you."

The Penguins will take on the Stars on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.