SLAP SHOTS

     Our Pittsburgh Penguins get a well-deserved break for the next week while All-Star festivities get underway in Nashville (except for our All-Stars, Geno and Tanger ). It was touch-and-go during the first half of the season for our Pens. But now, they find themselves in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference at the break. Today Mrs. Black-N-Gold looks at where the Pens have been and where they're headed (to the Stanley Cup!).

     Of course, the biggest news of the 1st half was the dismissal of Head Coach Mike Johnston and assistant Gary Agnew. That paved the way to promote Mike Sullivan to Head Coach from the same gig with the Baby Pens. But there were many other developments prior to the break.

      We had to say goodbye to F Pascal Dupuis as his blood clot situation got too hard to handle. Duper is gone but not forgotten. He continues to work with the Pens in a hands-on, consultant-type capacity. Speaking of former players that are now in the coaching ranks, Sergei Gonchar has been working with the team regarding defense and power play. Mrs. Black-N-Gold is sure that Duper's and Sarge's influence on the team can only help lead to good things for our Boys of Winter.

     Speaking of farewells, GM Jim Rutherford departed with some players that were in need of a change of scenery. D Rob Scuderi was traded to the Blackhawks for D Trevor Daley. Trader Jim also shipped F David Perron and D Adam Clendening to Anaheim for F Carl Hagelin. Out with the old in with the new? D Derrick Pouliot also recently worked his way back to Pittsburgh via Wilkes/Barre-Scranton.

       The majority of the team got off to a terrible start. The only player holding it together most of the time was G Marc-Andre Fleury. MAF has been posting MVP numbers this season. Lately though, the Pens have been getting on the stick, especially D Kris Letang and C Sidney Crosby. The addition of Hagelin seems to have improved F Phil Kessel's play, too.
      
       The Pens are 24-17-7 with 55 points. In their past 16 games they're 9-3-4. In their last 8 home games they're 6-0-2. Flower has a record of 5-0-1 in his last 6 home games. And their abysmal power play that was ranked in the bottom of the NHL earlier this season has rebounded to a 19.9% clip, good for 10th in the league.

       Still, there is room for improvement. D Ian Cole and F Patric Hornqvist have been major disappointments this season. F Beau Bennett continues to suffer injury after injury. There are two other areas of concern that the Pens need to improve. 1)The Pens are 2-7-1 in back-to-back games. They have to find a way to get better on the back-end of these double-dips. Take some vitamins and load up on fruit and vegis. Do something to add a spark to this part of your game. 2)Our boys have a nasty habit of getting off to a slow start in their games, getting behind early and putting themselves behind the 8-ball, too. This is certainly not a habit you want to carry into the playoffs. Again, how about a shot of B-12 or something?

        All-in-all, Mrs. Black-N-Gold likes what Coach Sully is doing and where our Pens are going. It's certainly not as painful to watch as it was in the early part of the season. No offense to Mike Johnston but the style of play under his regime was like watching ice melt. Now they just need to carry this momentum into the 2nd half and start stacking wins and moving up to improve their playoff position. Hopefully come spring we'll be able to say "Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley, pass me the brandy". Let's Go Pens!!!