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It’s been twenty years given that Pittsburgh fans discovered themselves in their existing circumstance. That’s right, it’s been 2 complete years given that the last time the city’s 3 expert sports groups missed out on the playoffs in succession. The Penguins finished the undesirable trifecta when they were gotten rid of from NHL playoff contention on Wednesday night, ending the franchise’s run of 16 successive postseason berths.
The Penguins, Pirates and Steelers were each playing regular-season video games this past October, however none were still playing when their particular postseasons started. The Pirates withstood a 100-loss season while extending their non-playoff streak to 7 years. The Steelers completed the 2022 season with the franchise’s 19th successive non-losing season, however missed out on the playoffs after beginning the season with a 2-6 record. Like the Steelers, the Penguins will likewise complete their existing season with a winning record (they are 40-31-10 going into Thursday night’s season ending in Columbus), however will still wind up on the exterior of the playoffs.
Penguins star Sidney Crosby was a teen living in Canada the last time all 3 Pittsburgh sports groups missed out on the playoffs in succession. In 2003, the Pirates went 75-87 while extending their run of non-playoff seasons to 11. The Penguins, 2 years gotten rid of from making the playoffs for an 11th straight year, remained in the 2nd year of their reconstruct. They slogged through a 65-point season in spite of getting an All-Star season from Mario Lemieux, who tallied 91 points at age 37. That fall, the Steelers finished the undesirable trifecta by going 6-10, the franchise’s worst record throughout Bill Cowher’s 15 seasons as coach.
Obviously, Pittsburgh’s sports torment didn’t last long. The Penguins’ lean years settled with low draft choices that enabled them to obtain a core of stars that would assist the franchise win Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017. The Steelers parlayed their last losing season into the choice of Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th total choice in the 2004 Draft. Pittsburgh went 15-1 in Big Ben’s very first season and would win 2 Super Bowls and 3 AFC titles with Roethlisberger under center.
It took longer, however the Pirates began to win, too. Led by outfielder Andrew McCutchen, the 2013 Pirates ended the franchise’s 21-year playoff dry spell. The Bucs stressed their remarkable season with a 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Wild Card Game. The Pirates would go on to make the playoffs each of the next 2 seasons.
While the Pirates aren’t anticipated to make the playoffs this year, the 2023 Steelers have a good chance at snapping the city’s existing playoff dry spell. The Steelers’ win forecast has actually been set at 9.5, according to Caesars Sportsbook, which would put them on the cusp of a playoff area. Pittsburgh’s third-place schedule for the upcoming season just assists its playoff potential customers.
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