Pens defied the odds in return to playoffs

The big picture: The team acknowledged the critics in a video posted to social media: "They wrote us off. We flipped the script," the team wrote.

Zoom in: The rebound was led by team captain Crosby, who secured yet another point-per-game season, his 21st and the most in NHL history.

• Forward Egor Chinakhov was acquired in a trade and set career highs in points as a Penguin.
• The Pens signed forward Anthony Mantha, who surprised many by scoring 61 points so far this season.

Zoom out: These moves were orchestrated by Pittsburgh mayor look-alike and general manager Kyle Dubas and new head coach Dan Muse, who replaced longtime coach Mike Sullivan.

• The maneuvers paid off quickly. The team started 8-2-2, and eventually coasted to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division.

State of play: That means the Pens will have home ice at PPG Paints Arena for at least the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

• It's still unclear who will face-off against the Penguins, but a Keystone State series against the Philadelphia Flyers is a possibility.

What's next: The playoffs start Saturday.

• We won't know the Pens' exact schedule until all the spots are clinched.