Ask any NHL coach or general manager. Ask a player. Heck, ask anyone associated with an NHL team and they’ll tell you. It’s next to impossible to maintain a consistent pace over an 82-game schedule.
So much can effect a team. Illness and injuries, for one. Not to mention the occasional slump. Or…like two years ago…an unexpected case of the mumps.
The key is to stay even-keel as possible. Keep your lows from getting too low. And ride the occasional hot streak for all it’s worth.
That’s what our Penguins have done. Following an uneven 4-5-1 stretch in November that surely had coach Mike Sullivan reaching for the Pepto-Bismol, the Pens have rediscovered their Stanley Cup mojo. Big time.
Starting with an impressive 6-2 romp over Dallas on December 1, the locals have won four in a row. They’ve struck for a whopping 24 goals in the process. An average of six per game. Unheard of in an era renowned for sticky back pressure and gargantuan goalies who hog the entire net simply by dropping to their knees.
It isn’t so much that the Pens are winning as how they’re doing it. To steal a line from Sullivan, they’re playing the right way. On their toes instead of their heels. The blazing team speed that fueled the Cup run is evident once again. They’re beating foes to the punch.
It starts with the captain. With the possible exception of his extraordinary pre-concussion performance of 2010-11, I’ve never seen Sidney Crosby this dialed in. Not only is No. 87 lighting the lamp at a scorching clip (18 goals in 21 games), he’s displayed a diamond-hard edge and intensity. From scoring clutch goals to winning key faceoffs to digging in the corners to backchecking to dropping the mitts to defend a teammate, he’s doing it all on a nightly basis.
Sid owns the game right now.
Teammates can’t help but follow his exemplary lead. Phil Kessel’s been working along the wall of late. Evgeni Malkin’s shed his penchant for careless play (and penalties) and morphed into a model of discipline and decorum. With 10 goals and 28 points, “Geno’s” found his groove, too.
Ditto heart-and-soul vets like pile driver Patric Hornqvist, the team’s physical pulse, and cagey Matt Cullen, who continues to dazzle at a ripe old age.
Depth played a huge part in last season’s Cup run. Once again, virtually everyone is producing. My goodness, has Conor Sheary emerged. Quick and creative with an uncanny nose for the net, yet able to excel in traffic. Counterintuitive for a player his size.
Bryan Rust recently rediscovered his warp-drive roots, not to mention his scoring touch. Same goes for Justin Schultz, who’s flashed the burgeoning skill that made him a hot commodity at the University of Wisconsin. With the help of assistant coach Jacques Martin, he and gritty defense partner Ian Cole (plus-16 each) have been a revelation on the back end.
Heck, any team that can afford to ship a can’t-miss rookie like Jake Guentzel back to the minors, not to mention perennial defensive prospect Derrick Pouliot, has few personnel worries.
Even players who aren’t posting big numbers are chipping in. Lunch-pail guys like Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin, Tom Kuhnhackl, Olli Maatta and Scott Wilson. Did anyone notice “Bones” block two shots in rapid succession during Thursday’s 5-1 rout of Florida and hobble back for more? And the pass Wilson made to Kuhnhackl after getting mashed into the boards?
Talk about desire.
Granted, there’s still a long way to go. Two-thirds of a season, to be exact. Like all clubs, the Pens have some issues. Such as dreadful penalty killing (28th in the league at 76 percent). And an awkward rotation of up-and-comer Matt Murray and incumbent Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes that isn’t ideal for either goalie.
Still, our boys are looking more and more like a team that can compete.
And repeat.
Hey Rick,
I want to agree with you pal,but I am still not certain about us repeating with the current configuration of the Team. Crosby, since winning the Con Smythe last year and then the MVP of the 2016 World Cup this September has been a force, no doubt about it.Geno, since I posted last, has played very well in the past 5 games.He was the main reason they won in Tampa. But other signs are disturbing to me. Number one concern,is the play of those damn Flyers. Something like 8 straight wins I think.There young guys are playing very well I have been told. These guys are going to be heard from come April.
Second concern, and deeply so, is the play of Montreal !! We mention how the Pen’s play better with Matt Murray in goal,well the same thing with Price and Montreal.Does not make any sense, but they will be there come April. What about the Rangers,Bluejackets, Capitals, and even the Lighting? Out west you can name 6 teams easily. Chicago,ST.Louis,LA,San Jose,Minni, and maybe, do not laugh to loud,Edmonton. So while we seem to have a streak going on,just remember Rick that there is even more PARITY in the league now and I still believe we need to add another d man of quality who can play top 4, another winger with size and come to a quick resolution to the Goalie situation for us to be a true Cup Contender in 2017.
One last thing Rick,is the mishandling of the development of Derrick Pouliot. We did the same thing to Beau Bennett. If they are not going to play DP at the NHL level, his game will never improve, so why not trade him now !
As always a great article Rick.
Cheers.
Hey Jim,
I hear ya’ about the competition. The Metro Division is absolute murder this season. As you so aptly noted, the Rangers, Flyers, Blue Jackets and Capitals all are really playing well. Heck, counting Saturday’s victory over Tampa Bay we’ve won five in a row and still slipped into second place!
Needless to say, it’s going to be a pitched battle all the way. Maybe just what we need to stay focused and motivated.
The Pouliot situation’s a tough one. His slot was more or less filled when the Pens re-signed Justin Schultz, a move I certainly don’t regret. With Schultz and Trevor Daley set to become UFAs following the season, perhaps that opens the door down the road.
While we’ve been very fortunate this season, injuries do occur. I’d be surprised if Pouliot doesn’t see some significant playing time as the season progresses.
Anyways, good comments as always, my friend.
Rick
Hey Rick,
Good Stuff! You are spot on about Crosby. He is really feeling it right now; 20g and 31pts in 22gp, wow. And how about the other part of that 2 headed monster Malkin, 11g and 19a for 30pts. Oh wait, what about that third head of the Hydra, Kessell, 30pts as well. Love to watch these guys fly.
As we talked, I can’t held but think that Guentzel will be back before the play-offs and that he just may be the kid out of nowhere that will provide the play-off heroics that Rust, Sheary, and Kuhnhackl brought last year. I have no idea of how anyone will be looking come April; but in my mind I picture a scenario of;
Crosby-Hornqvist-Sheary (mainly)/Kunitz,
Malkin-Guentzel-Rust/Kuhnhackl,
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessell
Making up the top three lines with Cullen and Fehr mixing up that forth line.
It would seem to me that spreading the hydra back out over three lines with the ageless wonder, Cullen, anchoring the fourth (What does he have 6g?) would really put extreme pressure on opponents checking/defensive schemes. Unlike last year, when Malkin was skating with linemates by committee, Guentzel may just provide the same chemistry Neal gave Malkin without the baggage.
I hate to say this, but I think the biggest reason for the Jekyll/Hyde November really comes down to bad coaching decisions in goal. We have discussed in person and in writing here ad Nauseum, but the yoyo goaltending rotation is really hurting the team as a whole. And with no offense intended to Fleury (As we’ve talked you know how much I like him and respect not only what he has done and what I think he still can do) this team is and should be Murray’s team. No he has had two less than Murray like preformances but the only way he can get back to his play-off form is by playing. Practices and sitting on the end of the bench only facilitiate mediocrity, especially in a young goalie. Unless he is getting shelled, or in the case of 5 or 6 games in 7 or 8 days he should get the start.
As for the D, I believe once the goaltending situation resolves itself and Murray gets consistent starts, the D will settle down and all of the D will look better. They will no longer feel as if they have to compensate for their goalie.
Also, again, I am not trying to slam Fleury, I don’t think this goaltending issue is good for either goalie. The yoyo goaltending is hurting them both. Neither is playing up to their ability. I only say Murray because he is the future and even more so, his style of goaltending meshes better with this team; tactics and strategy.
Go Pens!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Other Rick,
Great stuff, as always. Especially your observations about Guentzel.
Rick