The Pens record at the break is 26-12-8, 60 points. Although they were tops in the Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division for most of the 1st half of the season, the Pens have fallen on hard times, of late, dropping them into 2nd place. Losing 4 in a row and going 4-3-3 in your last 10 has that effect of a team. They are still ranked in the top 10 of the NHL in goals per game, 7th at 3.0, goals against, #9 at 2.5, power play, 6th with 22.1% and penalty kill, 3rd with 87.1%.
1st year coach Mike Johnston has had to juggle many a lineup as he's dealt with injury and illness. LW Pascal Dupuis and D Olli Maatta have both been lost for the season due to injuries. The Dupuis injury is all the more debilitating as Duper is looked upon as a guiding force in the locker room. The Pens had similar issues last season as they suffered through 523 games-worth of injuries. They may be well on their way to breaking that mark this season.
The Baby Pens that have received the call to join the big club have done tried their best, to no avail, to keep the team pointing in the right direction. New GM Jim Rutherford has also tried his darnedest to bring in much-needed help. The problem is he's working with a salary-cap-strapped team that can ill-afford any missteps.
Individual players have shone flashes of brilliance this season. The Flower's stellar play earned him his second career All-Star nod. C Evgeni Malkin was earning rave reviews as an MVP candidate early in the season but has tailed off of late. He and C Sidney Crosby will both miss All-Star weekend due to injury.
"Due to injury". The phrase is constantly uttered when speaking of the Pens. In fact it's repeated so often that it should become the latest and greatest of the Pittsburgh faithful's drinking game. Every time someone says "due to injury" you must drink.
The Pens situation as a whole is enough to make one drink. No one is stepping up to pick this team up. Not any of the stars and not any of the youngsters that are getting the call at WB/S and the opportunity to impress the Penguins brass. Their play has been sluggish, uninspired and downtrodden. These Penguins need to pick themselves up and re-invent themselves in the second half.
Ever since they won the Stanley Cup in the 2008-2009 season, the Penguins have laid big eggs in big games. Any time they face a potential playoff opponent during the regular season, they choke. If the game is on Rivarly Wednesday, Hockey Night in Canada, or NBC, it seems like they falter. This was a trend that started in the Bylsma Era and is continuing under Coach Johnston. The Pens tend to sleep-walk through the games that matter. They're not playing up to the level of competition like they should.
Mrs. Black-N-Gold hopes that MJ and his coaches see this disturbing pattern and nip it in the bud over the break. They'll face a tough Winnipeg team at home on Tuesday. Then it's another Rivalry Wednesday as they play their 2nd game in a row, facing off against Washington. They close out the week on Friday night at New Jersey.
One time, several years ago, the Pens slogan was "Get Fired Up For The New Ice Age". It's time for your Pittsburgh Penguins to "Get Fired Up" again. Make it happen. Let's Go Pens!!!
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