Penguins Update: The Tale of Two Aging Metro Lions

For the better part of a decade, the Penguins and blood-rival Capitals have dominated the NHL’s Metropolitan Division. While our Pens captured back-to-back Stanley Cups and two division titles, the Caps ran off five consecutive division titles and nabbed a Cup of their own.

In fact, the fortunes of the twin Metro powers have been intertwined since the infamous Jaromír Jágr deal back in 2001, eerily so. The former Patrick Division rivals both hit the skids in the early 2000s and bottomed out in ’03-04, with the Caps winning the draft lottery and snagging the supremely gifted Alexander Ovechkin with the first overall pick and the Pens grabbing Evgeni Malkin, arguably the greatest consolation prize in NHL history, second overall.

The clubs rose to prominence together, peaked at the same time and began a gradual fade at the same juncture, culminating in a failure to qualify for the playoffs last spring. They entered the current season as the oldest (Pens) and fifth-oldest (Caps) teams in the league. No surprise, given their venerable 30-something cores.

Both teams are playing against type this season. Traditionally high-octane clubs that overwhelmed the opposition by the sheer dint of their awesome firepower, the Pens and Caps are struggling to fill the net but excelling defensively. The Ovi-led Caps are next-to-last in goal production, our guys rank 26th.

How dry is the Caps’ offense? Tom Wilson (yes, that Tom Wilson) is tied with Ovechkin and defenseman John Carlson for the club scoring lead with 15 points, which would rank a distant fifth on our Pens. Twenty-four games into his season, the Great Eight has only five goals and just one on the power play.

Speaking of, you think we’ve got issues with our 7-for-74 power play? Guess who’s worse?

Yep, the Caps (6-for-70).

Injuries? Ovi’s long-time sidekick and setup man, Nicklas Bäckström, has been forced to step away from the game due to complications from hip resurfacing surgery. Max Pacioretty, still on the mend from Achilles surgery, has yet to play a single game.

Talented but prickly Evgeny Kuznetsov, their top center, has only 11 points and was a recent healthy scratch. Following in the skate tracks of Jeff Carter, 37-year-old T.J. Oshie has virtually evaporated as an offensive threat (one goal, two points).

Okay, Buker, I get it. The Caps have fallen on hard times. Boo hoo. So have our Pens. Why the ramble?

I’ll tell ya.

Despite their myriad issues and challenges, heading into today’s action the Caps are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt with a record of 13-8-3 and 29 points. Last night they blanked the division-leading Rangers, 4-0.

By contrast, we’ve dropped four in a row. With a record of 11-12-3 and 25 points, we’re six points out of a playoff spot and fading fast.

So why have the Caps been able to battle through their adversity while we’ve struggled to overcome?

Their bright young coach, Spencer Carbery, provided some insight following the victory over the Rangers.

“I just felt like from a total 60 minutes of playing our style of play, everybody on the same page with our structure,” Carbery said. “[It was] right up there with one of our most complete games of the year.”

His comments immediately struck a chord. Probably because they stand in such stark contrast to a recent observation made by Dan Kingerski on Pittsburgh Hockey Now in the aftermath of our loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday. One backed up by the eye test.

“The Penguins were stuck in a disconnected effort of individual performances, ridiculous passing, and a third period push that more resembled pond hockey than their structured better angles,” Dan wrote. “Oh, long gone is that tight 1-2-2 that bedeviled talented teams like Anaheim, Colorado and Vegas.”

Against long odds, injuries and encroaching age, the Caps appear to be forging a new identity under Carbery.

“He’s just such a hard-working guy,” Caps defenseman Lucas Johansen said. “He sets the example by just how he logs more hours than anybody. He’s doing everything he can to make sure we’re prepared to win every game. I think guys respect that a lot… It’s just a really good environment for winning I think that he brings so it’s been good so far.”

On the flip side, the Pens seem to be doing anything but under Mike Sullivan. All too often we appear to be disjointed and out of sync.

Too, there are Sully’s confounding and all-too-predictable personnel decisions. Such as breaking up the most effective third line we’ve had in ages. Or frequently scratching Vinnie Hinostroza, who combines speed and tenacity with at least a modicum of playmaking ability, in favor of the latest (bland) flavor imported from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton such as Joonas Koppanen. Or worse yet, Carter.

Raise your hand if didn’t know Carter would eventually make his way back to a prominent spot in the lineup as soon as injuries hit. Reminiscent of Dominik Simon a couple of years back. The difference being, then-GM Ron Hextall was able to remove Simon from Sully’s tool kit. Kyle Dubas has no such luxury with Carter, who’s here for the duration.

By the way, Big Jeff logged a robust 16:38 of ice time in Friday’s loss to the Panthers. While his line was heavily underwater, scrappy call-up Jonathan Gruden performed ably, albeit in extremely limited ice time (5:56). Which is actually 27 seconds above his career average.

Again, who would’ve guessed.

The players need to find their game. But Sullivan needs to find his, too.

I know injuries to key players have taken a toll, causing Sully and his staff to scramble to plug the gaps and establish some degree of continuity. But at some point the Pens’ skipper has to be held accountable for his team’s performance. Preferably before the season goes down the drain.

One only needs to glance at the equally challenged Caps to see what could be.