SLAP SHOTS

     Yesterday, your Pittsburgh Penguins suffered another punishing loss. This one came at the hands of the Nashville Predators on the Pens home ice, 4-0. Where, oh where, have the wins gone for the Boys of Winter? The Pens inability to find the net and to keep opponents out of the net has wreaked havoc on this team for quite sometime now. Not just this season under first-year head coach Mike Johnston, either.

     No, this malady has been plaguing the Pens for the past several seasons.  The Pens have been in meltdown-mode ever since they won their last Stanley Cup. From flameouts in the playoffs, to early exits and injuries, all have been blamed for the Pens playoff woes.

     Maybe, just maybe, it's time to start blaming the players. Holding them accountable for their actions or lack-thereof. There's no denying that another injury-shortened season to LW Pascal Dupuis has been a major blow to this team. As is the season-ending injury to young D Olli Maatta. And then there was Mumps-gate. It seems like the mumps epidemic has sapped the Pens of their mojo.

     Great teams don't look for excuses. They use them as a motivational tool. True, the Pens say all the right things off the ice. They just don't do the right things on the ice. It's time for this team to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Stop looking so lethargic as the losses continue to loom large. You've got to be able to play big in big games against big opponents instead of laying a big egg.

     It seems like Mrs. Black-N-Gold had to make a similar speech regarding the Pens porous play just last week. Apparently they weren't listening. If they have another early exit from the playoffs or fail to make the postseason at all, they'll have plenty of time to listen to the pundits pontificate about their latest postseason plunder. Time to get your acts together and get in the win column! Let's Go Pens!!!