The thought’s crept from my subconscious and into my head like some sort of paranormal harbinger while watching our last two games. Could the Penguins win the Stanley Cup?
Yeah…I know. Crazy. If you’d told me I’d be thinking this way even a couple of weeks ago? I would’ve said you were nuts. After all, we didn’t win our second game in regulation until February 14…nearly a quarter of the way into the season.
But now?
This bunch appears to be channeling our 2015-16 Cup winners. Eerily so. Right down to a slumping superstar. Seems improbable now, but Sidney Crosby was doing his best pre-hot streak Evgeni Malkin imitation back then. He had a grand total of two goals and nine points after 18 games. Remember?
Heck, at that stage Bobby Farnham had more goals than Sid. That’s right…Bobby Farnham.
Lots of folks, including yours truly, were asking if No. 87 was washed up.
Our present vintage is even patterned after the ’15-16 squad, with a pronounced emphasis on speed. And both clubs experienced quite a bit of turnover during the offseason while adding a high-profile top-six winger (Phil Kessel and Kasperi Kapanen).
Following three straight losses to open the ’15-16 season, we heated up with nine wins in 10 games. Despite our success, we didn’t look good. It was no great surprise when the wheels came off and the axe fell on coach Mike Johnston.
Even after Mike Sullivan took over, things didn’t turn around right away. We lost our first four games under the newly minted coach and went 6-7-4 in his first 17 games.
Then we caught fire. The rest, they say, is history.
I thought we resembled those Johnston-era Pens during the first dozen games this season. Even when we won, we looked crappy. We couldn’t win in regulation to save our souls, ceding precious points to division foes. Then we went through a win one, lose one stretch. We couldn’t string two solid games together.
If not for the remarkable resilience we’ve displayed from day one? I shudder to think where we’d be.
Now…suddenly…things are starting to jell. We’re heating up and looking like a real hockey team. We’re getting contributions from up and down the lineup, not to mention solid netminding. Even the fourth line’s been passable. Perhaps just as important, a palpable bond seems to be forming among the players.
No, we’re not perfect. Not by a long shot. But neither are our division rivals.
Boston has a murderous top line and Tuukka Rask but no scoring depth. Washington is tough and skilled but slow. Philly is having consistency and goaltending issues. The Islanders might be the most complete team in the division, especially playing Barry Trotz’s structured style. But we’ve had our way with them.
If our boys get healthy? We could be a formidable opponent. Even more so if GM Ron Hextall finds a way to add a power forward and a physical defenseman.
Back to my original thought. Each time we’ve won a Cup, I’ve just had a feeling. Similar to the vibes I’ve gotten lately.
In case you’re wondering, I do claim to have a little ESP. Enter the WABAC machine with me and set the dial to Saturday, December 23, 1972. Fifteen at the time, I stepped into the Radio Shack at South Hills Village to listen to the Steelers game (home games weren’t televised back then). We trailed the Raiders, 7-6. Fourth and ten, ball on our 40-yard line. Twenty-two seconds left to play.
And then it hit me…literally like a bolt from the blue. We’re going to win.
I told the woman standing next to me. Then came announcer Jack Fleming’s call.
…And Bradshaw, back and looking again Bradshaw….running out of the pocket, looking for somebody to throw to, fires it downfield, and there’s a collision! It’s caught out of the air! The ball is pulled in by Franco Harris! Harris is going for a touchdown for Pittsburgh!
Yes, the “Immaculate Reception.”
Mind you, I’m not promising a Cup just yet. But those feelings are beginning to stir…
Hey Rick,
Harken your memory back to February 2016, I was the first here on these boards to start suggesting a Cup was possible. Everyone else was still doom and gloom. At first my comments were veiled like someone who notices a shutout or actually like when in a baseball game you start realizing a no hitter is possible; being the superstitious former Goalie – afraid to voice too loudly what I was seeing for fear that I jinx it.
Sorry, I am not feeling it yet. Way too many things have to happen.
1. That 2016 team was fresh of a Coaching change and had developed a totally different game plan, a game plan that nobody had foreseen or had any idea of how to defend. This year; same old same old with a Coach that has a hard time to adjust to opponents – it took him 3 years to change his break outs from his Cup era. Chances are neither will occur. The Coach won’t change, nor will the Coach change.
2. That 2016 team had a road record of 22-15-4 (a 0.525 w%). This season our Pens are 5-7-1 (a 0.423 w%). This team hasn’t shown the ability to win on the road and with their overall record, chances are they aren’t getting home ice throughout the playoffs. (neither Buffalo nor NYR are likely to make the playoffs).
3. In 2016 the team had a regulation W% of 0.573, this year it has barely climbed back to 0.500. Maybe it will continue to climb, maybe not. However, to win a Cup it has to continue to climb. Post season OT is 5-on-5, they have to be able to win more the 50% of the time 5-on-5.
4. In 2016, Ian Cole was 21st in the league in Blks/60 and Ben Lovejoy was 47th among players who played at least 2/3 of the season. This season, no Penguin appears in the top 50. In 2016 Nick Bonino was 4th in the league in Blks/60 and Eric Fehr was 8th among Forwards. This season the 1st Penguin to check into the league leaders among Forwards isn’t until 18th (Colton Sceviour – I guess I need to give him some credit). Rather than block shots, this team would rather wave their sticks at opponents.
5. In 2016 Ben Lovejoy was 16th in the league among Defensemen in Hits/60 and Ian Cole 32 (2/3 of the season GP).This season only Cody Ceci breaks the top 50 and then not until 38th. Outside of Ceci, no one ones to put body on body. This team lacks those little intangibles, the guts to man up and sacrifice to win.
I did say at the beginning of the season, that there were enough players in the Organization to make it to the playoffs, and once the playoffs start, injuries could make Favorites into also rans, elevating underdogs to Cup chances. However, a 4 game winning streak is not enough to crown this team. It has a long, long way to go to earn themselves true comparison to those Cup teams. Three wins against the Panarinless Rangers and a win against a hapless team to begin with but now playing without Eichel?
I don’t like writing negatively too often. Living in Atlanta during the end of the Thrashers existence, watching the media destroy all morale on that team when it actually had a chance one season for a deep playoff run, makes me reticent to point out flaws when the team is winning. I would rather try and ride the win streak. But that is all this is, a handful of games against the little sisters of the poor.
However, a 4 game winning streak is not enough to crown this team. It has a long, long way to go to earn themselves true comparison to those Cup teams. Three wins against the Panarinless Rangers and a win against a hapless team to begin with but now playing without Eichel?”
“Three wins against the Panarinless ” No it was the “Zuckerless and McCannless” Penguins that won. Last week the “Crosbyless” Penguins beat the Flyers. Funny you didn’t mention anything about that.
You also fail to mention that they have winning record against both the top teams in the Division, NYI and Wash. But of course, that conflicts with your obvious agenda. You are a very sick man.
Hey Stratton,
I know you and Other Rick have your thing, but I can assure you he isn’t a sick man. Actually, he’s quite sane and healthy.
There are times when I can be a little reactionary and pollyanna in my views. In those instances, Other Rick often serves as a balance wheel to point out the other side of the coin and bring me back to earth. In fact, before I posted this article, I teased him that I was setting him up to hit a few out of the park.
While he and I don’t always agree…we had quite a go-’round about Matt Murray last season…I, for one, always value and appreciate his opinion and comments.
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for the jump in here but actually I don’t respond to and eventually stop reading commenters that engage in name calling. Negative behaviors such as that, in the heat of being in the moment signify a level of passion and can be forgiven. When such behaviors are premeditated, in written conversation signify something far more deep seeded.
Also Rick, since the Odds Makers have dropped the Penguins Odds of winning the Cup from 22:1 to 25:1, people with far more insight would seem to agree with me than someone who lacks self-discipline and resorts to play ground tactics to shore up faltering evidence-less opinions.
Rick
I’m with you and our chances to take a shot at the Cup. I really do believe
it won’t end well if we don’t make a couple of moves to add size, toughness
and grit.