Penguins' fate still up in air entering Game No. 81

As the only player on the roster who has played a non-playoff season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby can speak uniquely on the perspective that the Penguins are in a better spot now than they were during his rookie 2005-06 season.

These Penguins are worlds better than the 58-point version of 13 years ago. But they share one thing with that group that and the 2014-15 team: They’re entering the 81st game of the season without a playoff berth assured.

And while it would take an unlikely set of events at this juncture for the Penguins to be shut out of the postseason that begins next week, that fact is at least adding some interest to their final two games.

“Obviously, things are getting pretty interesting here,” winger Bryan Rust said. “So I think just that all we can worry about is taking care of our own business and after that, whatever happens, happens.”

The Penguins (43-26-11) have 97 points and have a magic number of two. That means that a victory Thursday night at home against the Detroit Red Wings punches their ticket to the playoffs for an NHL active-best 13th consecutive year. If not, a win Saturday at PPG Paints Arena against the New York Rangers accomplishes the same thing.

But the Penguins don’t want to tempt fate with that kind of drama. April 2015 was the last time they went into an 82nd game not assured of a playoff spot. They faced a bottom-feeding team that year, too. They beat the Buffalo Sabres in that game but lost in the first round in five games to the No. 1 seed Rangers.

If things fall poorly for this year’s Penguins, they also could meet a No. 1 seed in the first round (Tampa Bay) — but it also is possible they get home-ice advantage in the first round.

“Not only do we want to clinch. We want to get in the best position possible,” said injured defenseman Kris Letang, who has not been ruled out for a return Thursday. “Every game is important, and all four points, we will try to get them. It’s not only about making it, it’s trying to be in a good position also.”

Coach Mike Sullivan, just a few days back when missing the postseason seemed impossible, went on record saying getting in was more of a priority than worrying about seeding. The Penguins have finished in second place in the Metropolitan Division each of the three seasons Sullivan has completed as coach.

Odds fall on the Penguins meeting the New York Islanders (99 points with two games to play) in the first round, but the venue for Games 1-2, 5 and 7 are in question. Still, Sullivan said he told the team at practice Wednesday that its sole focus should be on Thursday’s game against the Red Wings.

“Ultimately, everybody’s goal going into training camp is to win the Stanley Cup, but you win the Stanley Cup in September and October and November. You have to make sure you win the game in front of you, or … get better in practice that day,” Sullivan said. “Hopefully the accumulation of energy and execution adds up to an opportunity at the end of the year. And so that’s really the mantra that we have had since this coaching staff was put together.”

The Penguins prospects are much improved from a month and a half ago. A strong March helped pull them into a better position.

“I think that helps our urgency and our mentality going into games,” Crosby said, “because it has had to be that way for a while.

“(Thursday) is another challenge as far as that is concerned, so I think our mindset is in the right place. We know the importance of it.”