Penguins Update: I Was Wrrrr…

For those of us ancient enough to remember the TV show Happy Days, it was a classic episode. The one where Fonzie tried to admit he was wrong to Ralph Malph, but couldn’t get the words out.

“I was wrrrr…,” stammered the Fonz.

Well, the same goes for me. I was wrrrr… about our Penguins.

Six weeks ago I predicted a black-and-gold implosion of epic proportions. As recently as three weeks ago I felt they wouldn’t make the playoffs. I’ve carped about their lack of size and snarl. I truly believed you built a hockey team the old-fashioned way. With a mixture of skill and brawn. Heavy on the brawn.

My idea of a hockey club? The Columbus Blue Jackets. You see where they are. Vying for the NHL cellar, last I checked.

The Penguins have made a believer out of me.

My word are they fast. Aggressive. Crisp. Relentless. Watching them eviscerate Anaheim at the CONSOL last night brought to mind the Red Wings team that skated us into the ice during the 2008 Cup Finals. The poor Ducks simply couldn’t cope. Heck, even our kids skated circles around them.

I know, given how well the team’s playing, it’s all-too-easy to get carried away. But things are starting to feel an awful lot like 2009. When Dan Bylsma loosened the restraining bolts cinched so tightly under Michel Therrien and the Pens took off.

Sidney Crosby’s on fire. Seven goals and 12 points in his past four games. Are you kidding me? Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey were right. Sid hasn’t dominated this way since his pre-concussion days.

Kris Letang’s been otherworldly. Eight goals and a staggering 26 points in his last 17 games. Foot soldiers like Chris Kunitz (five goals since January 12) are finding the net, too.

A far cry from the end of the Mike Johnston Era, when the stars struggled to score and the team looked as choppy as overtime ice. Mike Sullivan—with a big assist from GM Jim Rutherford—changed all that. Now the Pens are skating with passion and purpose. Not to mention that breathtaking speed.

Okay, maybe I’m not a total convert just yet. I still feel we’d benefit from a pile-driving forward. And a crease-clearing defenseman. But I’m coming around.

Maybe you can teach an old-school dog new tricks.