Penguins a Special Bunch

It was a milestone game of sorts for our Pittsburgh Penguins. Skating before a raucous sellout crowd at the Verizon Center, the black and gold withstood a furious rally by the home-standing Capitals to pocket their eighth-straight win, courtesy of a stunning backhand tally by captain Sidney Crosby with a minute left in overtime.

Thursday night’s 4-3 victory sewed up the season series with the Caps—3 games to 2. The Pens maintained their perfect record (39-0) when leading after two periods. More important, it clinched home ice for the first round of the playoffs.

Our boys can breathe a little easier heading into their regular-season finale against Philadelphia on Saturday.

Goodness knows, they’ve earned it. Eight wins in a row. Fourteen out of fifteen. All but one without superstar center Evgeni Malkin. Not to mention a host of other injuries to key personnel.

Unbelievable.

In all my years as a Penguins fan, I don’t think I’ve witnessed anything like this. Not that we haven’t enjoyed some truly remarkable hockey.

The 1988-89 Pens went 12-1-3 during an incendiary midseason run. “Badger” Bob Johnson’s team capped the first Cup season (’90-91) with a 9-3-2 spurt. With legendary Scotty Bowman at the helm, the Pens rolled to their second Cup the following season by sweeping their final 11 playoff contests.

Perhaps as close to perfection as a team could get.

There were other memorable hot streaks. Paced by Mario Lemieux and loaded with Hall-of-Famers, the ’92-93 team opened the season 11-1-2 and then tore through a 17-0-1 homestretch. Dan Bylsma’s ’09 Cup winners finished 18-3-3. In March of 2013 a star-studded Penguins squad went 15-0.

Those teams were super-skilled.

This one’s different. For the most part, it’s a collection of everyday Joes. Common guys doing uncommon things. Like lunch-pail center Nick Bonino, who has 15 points in his last dozen games. And young-at-heart greybeard Matt Cullen (five goals, 10 points in his past 10).

Each game, it seems, a different group steps up. Last night it was the ultra-popular Cullen (two goals), supported by Crosby and hustling rookie Conor Sheary. The game before? Crosby and speedy Carl Hagelin (a pair of goals each). The game before that? Eric Fehr.

These Penguins play for one another. Pick each other up. There’s a closeness—a palpable bond—that makes them greater as a unit than the sum of their parts. Like individual cogs in a well-oiled machine performing at maximum efficiency. All for one and one for all.

It’s been that way ever since Mike Sullivan took over. Certainly since New Year’s Eve, when the Pens have gone 31-10-4.

Passion, drive, hunger, resilience.

A special bunch. Easy to root for.

Even easier to love.

Sestito Shines

Subbing for oft-injured Beau Bennett (shoulder), Tom Sestito made the most of his seven shifts last night. The heavyweight winger doled out a team-high five hits in just under six minutes of ice time and made a pretty play along the wall midway through the second period that led to the Pens’ third goal.

After bumping Alex Ovechkin off the rubber in the defensive zone, Sestito retrieved a loose puck along the boards and took off. Crossing the Caps’ blue line, he dished a soft pass to Oskar Sundqvist, who in turn found Sheary breaking in alone.

Although he didn’t drop the mitts, Sestito’s presence no doubt helped his teammates feel a little more secure against a physical foe.