Are the Penguins a Tired Hockey Team?

I don’t have much to go on other than the eye test. Which we all know, hardly qualifies as an exact science. And I truly hate to be the harbinger of bad news. Especially when it concerns our Penguins.

But it seems to me we’re a tired hockey team.

Thinking back to last season’s incendiary second half, I remember two games in particular where the Pens’ collective energy and speed was simply overwhelming.

The first—a January 21 matchup versus Philadelphia at then CONSOL Energy Center. The visiting Flyers snatched a 2-0 with a pair of first-period power play goals.

Then…WHAM. The Pens overwhelmed Philly with a tidal burst of speed and effort, pounding three second-period goals past Steve Mason and outshooting the visitors 36-21 over the final 40 minutes.

“Speed kills,” bellowed announcer Paul Steigerwald after watching newcomer Carl Hagelin and fellow burner Phil Kessel torch Mason early in the third period on a classic 2-on-1 for the game winner.

“They’re a fast team,” marveled Flyers forward Jakub Voracek.

A short time later, the locals eviscerated Anaheim, 6-2. Winners of six in a row, the Ducks barely laid a glove on the warp-drive Pens all night long. For the record, Anaheim would go on to win 12 of its next 13 following the embarrassing loss.

Maybe I’m spoiled. And perhaps my recollections are a bit amplified. But I’m not seeing that kind of jump from our guys any more. While I realize the temporary outdoor ice surface at Heinz Field wasn’t necessarily a fair proving ground, I thought we looked sluggish against a rather ordinary Flyers squad on Saturday night.

Same thing with the previous game against Carolina, and the one before that against Detroit.

I decided to do a simple test and track shots on goal for the past nine games, during which the Pens have gone a deceptive 5-1-3.

Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Shots For	Shots Against	Difference
Feb. 7	Calgary	SO Loss	2-3	33	30	3
Feb. 9	Colorado	Win	4-1	30	28	2
Feb. 11	Arizona	OT Loss	3-4	31	25	6
Feb. 14	Vancouver	Win	4-0	42	29	13
Feb. 16	Winnipeg	OT Win	4-3	39	47	-8
Feb. 17	Columbus	OT Loss	1-2	39	39	0
Feb. 19	Detroit	Loss	2-5	26	24	2
Feb. 21	Carolina	Win	3-1	22	30	-8
Feb. 25	Philadelphia	Win	4-2	29	38	-9
Total		5-1-3	27-21	291	290	1

The numbers support my impressions. Over the nine-game stretch, the Pens have mustered only one more shot on goal than their opponents.

During the past five games, the totals are decidedly worse. Including the overtime win over the Jets on February 16, our guys have been outshot by a whopping 178-155. A difference of minus-23.

Not to beat a dead horse, but injuries certainly haven’t helped. We’ve been competing without two of our fastest skaters and top possession drivers, Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary, for nearly a month. Similarly, injuries to puck-moving defenders Trevor Daley, Kris Letang and Justin Schultz have crippled the club’s transition game and placed an extra burden on everyone else. Especially stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

It’s been noticeable—at least to this observer.

Much to the team’s credit, not to mention coach Mike Sullivan and his staff, the Pens continue to win. The fact that they’re presently tied for second with Minnesota in the overall NHL standings is a testament to their commitment, heart and fortitude. Credit GM Jim Rutherford, too, for providing plenty of organizational depth.

Still, as the Brits used to sing on the march back in World War I, “It’s a long way to Tipperary.” The Pens have 22 regular-season games to play. Just around the corner—a murderous five-game, eight-day road trip that starts on March 8. (Thanks, schedule-makers.) One that surely will test us to our last ounce of resolve and reserve.

Hope our boys can survive…and perhaps even thrive.

Ice Chips

In NHL trade news, Los Angeles acquired goalie Ben Bishop and a fifth-round pick in the 2017 Entry Draft from Tampa Bay for goalie Peter Budaj, defenseman Erik Cernak, a seventh-round pick and a conditional pick in the 2017 Draft.

Minnesota was active, too, acquiring much-coveted center Martin Hanzal, feisty forward Ryan White and a fourth-round pick in 2017 from Arizona for forward Grayson Downing, a first-round pick in 2017, a second-round pick in 2018 and a conditional pick in 2019.