Open Letter to Penguins Nation

Lately, some wise and extremely knowledgeable hockey pals have voiced very legitimate concerns about our Penguins and their chances to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

I’m sure they’re not the only ones in Penguins Nation to doubt. So, with all due respect, I thought I’d respond in kind of an open-letter style.

First off, let me say I do understand your discomfort. Believe me, I do. The elevated shot totals against, game in and game out, certainly are a cause for worry.

Personally, I have an almost pathological unease over our lack of size. Especially on defense. Which I feel contributes greatly to our difficulty in clearing the puck from our zone. Thus, the untidy sum of shots against.

Indeed, our games tend to morph into on-ice track meets these days. Which I don’t think is at all what coach Mike Sullivan means by “playing the right way.”

However, “Sully” is practical enough to understand just how banged up his team is right now. And, to expect perfection from his present group, would be folly.

Nor do I think we’re quite giving credit where credit is due. Going into Sunday’s action, we’re three points off the overall NHL lead. Let that sink in for a moment. Three points.

Now, envision the following lineup with me:

Center—Crosby, Malkin, Bonino, Cullen

Left Wing—Guentzel, Hagelin, Kunitz, Wilson/Kuhnhackl

Right Wing—Sheary, Kessel, Hornqvist, Rust

Defense—Schultz, Cole, Dumoulin, Daley, Streit, Hainsey/Maatta

Goal—Murray, Fleury

It goes without saying the Pens should get quite a boost when everyone returns. “Hidden vigorish,” as the ol’ Gunner, Bob Prince used to say.

I’m not even including Kris Letang in the defensive mix for now, because no one associated with the team is saying boo about him. Even without “Tanger,” it’s a pretty imposing bunch.

Mind you, I’m not promising a Stanley Cup. And I know what you mean about this season not having the same feel as last year.

While hindsight is 20/20, a lot of us could sense something special was building last spring. We followed our Cup-winning formula of calamity, coaching change and resurrection right down the line. With a big trade or two thrown in.

Know what this season reminds me of? The Pens’ second Cup year in ’92. We faced a loaded, and I mean loaded, Washington team in the first round of the playoffs. Peter Bondra, Dino Ciccarelli, Kevin Hatcher, Dale Hunter, Al Iafrate, Calle Johansson, Rod Langway and Michal Pivonka. As big, tough and mean as they were good.

The Pens fell behind 3 games to 1. They lost Game 4, 7-2. Ciccarelli scored four goals in that one. Break out the golf clubs, boys. It looked like early tee times for sure.

Then Ron Francis and Mario Lemieux hatched a scheme—with coach Scotty Bowman’s blessing—to employ the 1-4 delay. We won three straight.

Next up, the New York Rangers. Presidents’ Trophy winners. Three Hall-of-Famers, including Captain Courageous Mark Messier. Five 30-goal scorers. Even bigger and badder than the Caps.

The Pens win Game 1 and are up in Game 2. Then Adam Graves breaks Mario’s hand with a slash and Kris King destroys Joey Mullen, tearing up his knee. Scratch two 40-goal scorers.

New York takes Games 2 and 3 and has us on the ropes in Game 4. Just when things couldn’t be bleaker, farmhand Mike Needham—a ‘90s version of Josh Archibald—scores a huge goal.

We rally from the brink to win Game 4. And the series. And, eventually, the Cup.

If all this has a familiar ring, it should. The present-day Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets remind me an awful lot of those ’92 Caps and Rangers. In similar fashion, we’ll likely have to go through one, if not both, just to get to the Finals.

Lord knows, it won’t be easy.

Out west, Chicago reminds me more of us than we do right now. A dynamic blend of skill and speed. The Blackhawks have been there before. They know what it takes to prevail.

Call me a cockeyed optimist. Despite the inherent obstacles, I believe our guys possess the heart, talent and resilience to rise above and repeat. Just like that ’91-92 team.

Believe.