Doubt the Penguins at Your Own Peril

In the previous a few weeks, it has not been a great time to be a Pittsburgh Penguins enthusiast.

Given that March 23, the Pens have absent 3-6-1, which integrated a 4-game shedding skid in which they have been outscored 18-9. Specially disheartening was a pair of losses to their Metropolitan Division rivals in Manhattan and Washington – in the circumstance of the Rangers, a staff they pretty nicely could be squaring off in opposition to in the 1st spherical of the future playoffs. Pittsburgh was outscored 9-3 in individuals two video games, sending waves of anxiousness rippling by way of their lover base.

But that is a comparatively smaller sample sizing. In the macro picture, the Penguins would not be in third spot in the Metro if they hadn’t revealed terrific resilience, in particular in the early aspect of this season, when they ended up without having several important team members. They now have very little probability to have property-ice advantage in the write-up-period, and the rebounding Capitals are four details at the rear of them (with two video games in hand on Pittsburgh). If they falter any even more, it’s attainable they wind up in the 2nd wild-card location, and will have to acquire on the dynamic Florida Panthers in Round 1.

But with all that in head, would you nevertheless guess versus a staff that has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on it? A workforce that has professional veterans in Bryan Rust, Jeff Carter and Jake Guentzel? A staff that has demonstrated talent on the blueline in Kris Letang and Mike Matheson?

Properly, you may possibly guess from them, but I’m not completely ready to just nonetheless.

Now, I grant you that I’m the same man who reported in the pre-year that I wasn’t totally cozy with Pittsburgh’s goaltending. Starter Tristan Jarry has performed very well this yr (.920 preserve percentage, 2.38 goals-from typical in 56 online games) to set very last spring’s epic playoff meltdown behind him, but I’ve in no way felt fantastic that Pens GM Ron Hextall didn’t go out and get anyone other than Casey DeSmith (.905 SP, 2.95 G.A.A.) as insurance policy in case Jarry receives the yips once again. Still, I simply cannot enable but feel the Penguins’ main has yet another deep playoff run however in them. And it is nicely inside of likelihood Jarry grows and plays well for them this time close to.

There’s force on Pittsburgh to do that, but you never imagine there is force on the Rangers, way too? They’ve had their 12 months saved consistently this period by Vezina Trophy frontrunner Igor Shesterkin. There is no concern they could be in hassle if they really don’t get in the same way excellent netminding from him this publish-season.

And do you not see the Panthers as owning pressure on them also? Positive, they’ve performed like the class of the league this yr, but this also is a franchise that has not won a playoff spherical since 1995-96. How quick and how tough will they start out squeezing their sticks if the Pens pull off a couple of fast wins at the get started of a initial-round sequence? I’m not saying it’s going to take place. I am indicating it’s feasible it can materialize. If all the finest common-season teams won in the submit-time, it would be an extremely uninteresting sport to look at and create about.

The Penguins are significantly from a ideal group. They’re in a location in their competitive cycle where by the end of their potency is inside of sight. But they still have change-makers who can ratchet up their video games the moment much more in advance of they definitely fade from Stanley Cup rivalry. It is not all about who they perform in the opening round. It’s about demonstrating that they proceed to have surefire threats. That is a thing they’ve generally discovered a way to do with this lineup.

You can question the Penguins if you want. Just never be astonished if your uncertainties convert out to be somewhat unfounded.