I’m not sure looking at one season for correlation is going to get you any answers either.
Bruins went to the Finals in 2019 being the third most penalized team in the league ( 3 out of the top 5 in PIMS made the playoffs that year as well ).
2020 and 2021, the Lightning won the Cup back to back being the 1st and third most penalized team in the league ( 3 out of the top 5 in PIMs made the playoffs in each of those years. Bruins were 6th and 5th those year )
2022, the Lightning made the SCF being the 2nd most penalized team again. ( 3 out of the top 5 in PMS made the playoffs again. Bruins were 8th )
2023, the Panthers made the SCF being the 2nd most penalized team in the league ( 2 out of the top 5 in PIMs made the playoffs that year. Bruins were 8th )
2024, the Panthers won the Cup being the most penalized team in the league ( 3 out of the top 5 in PIMS made the playoffs that year. Bruins were 13th ).
Not seeing the correlation here. Teams can and have gotten away with bleeding penalty minutes and make the playoffs ( and do well ). Definitely would rather see them stay out of the box then be in it and the PK has been atrocious.