Playoff failure has become the image of the Pittsburgh Penguins since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009. But the Metropolitan Division has quickly emerged as the worst of the four sets of the NHL, and in the weak Eastern Conference that means there is plenty of opportunity for a team to pull itself together. One established power that has done just that are the Penguins, who had only the New York Islanders to contend with lately for the top spot in the Met.
Playoff Prepped?
Pittsburgh broke out to an 18-6-2-1 mark to open the season and was playing with a level of consistency that has been missing the past two seasons. First year head coach Mike Johnston has to go down as the major reason for the improvement. Dan Bylsma, Johnston’s predecessor, lost the room by end of yet another playoff failure last year but Johnston has quickly won over the team by selling a more balanced and complete game. The Pens ranked third for goal scoring and sixth for goals against. Their special teams were among the best in the NHL ranking first for the power play and fifth for penalty killing.
A Fleury of Wins
Beleaguered goaltender Marc Andre Fleury has seen career resurgence under Johnston with a phenomenal start to his season. Fleury had a 2.16 goals against average and .925 save percentage with five shutouts to start the season with a record of 15-4-2.
Sid Flies like a Kid
Then of course there is the resident team superstar Sidney Crosby. Sid the Kid was unleashing his inner Gretzky with an NHL high 26 assists to go with nine goals. Fellow center Evgeni Malkin was also looking rejuvenated with 15 goals and 18 assists while RW Patrick Hornqvist added 11 goals and 14 assists. Hornqvist is proving to be one of the top offseason acquisitions in the league after arriving from Nashville where he was a 30 goal scorer in 2010.
Ultimate Proof is Playoffs
The improved play under Johnston, while encouraging, is not the ultimate verdict on the Penguins. Pittsburgh’s perennial success with Crosby, the marquee player of the NHL, has made for impossible expectations among a fan base that has been incredibly loyal and strong with among the highest attendance and local TC ratings in the league. That is offset by the fans frustration at the Penguins melting under the hot glare of the playoffs.
The Penguins played scared the past three post seasons and Crosby was ineffective and pestered without punishment while Fleury was erratic at best. Playoff time is what Pittsburgh is preparing for even now this Holiday season as anything less than the Stanley Cup is failure in Pittsburgh.
