"This
is the first time we've been in this position. I know that our guys will
respond the right way. They have for four months, five now. So any time your
back's against the wall, you have to heighten the urgency even that much more,
heighten the intensity that much more. We're all disappointed we didn't get the
result tonight, but we can't change it. So all we've got to do is we've got to
gather ourselves, we've got to go back at it and try to win a game” –Head Coach
Mike Sullivan
December
12, 2015: After a less consistent start to the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins
fired former head coach, Mike Johnson and brought in (former Wilkes Barre-
Scranton head coach) Mike Sullivan to take the reins. Through no amount of hard
work (and the occasional swear word), Head Coach Mike Sullivan (as well as impressive roster moves by General
Manager, Jim Rutherford), took this team from the basement of the Eastern
Conference to playing the Eastern Conference finals.
Though
multiple injuries to star players plagued this team all season and through no small amount of strife, the Penguins
made it through every obstacle they faced including a grueling month of March
and 2 hard fought playoff series. The team now faces their biggest task yet…fazing
off elimination late in what has been a magical (and somewhat miraculous)
playoff run.
I am not
one to sugar coat anything. Do I look like Willy Wonka? No…so I will be blunt:
The Penguins will be eliminated from the playoffs unless the whole team plays. This includes the stars.
Now before
you go after your torches and pitchforks, remember this: although stats may
be individual, it is still a team sport. It still requires team effort. The “HBK
Line” has been nothing short of brilliant and what more could be asked of Matt
Cullen, Bryan Rust or Patric Hornqvist?
But
those aren’t the names that should be standing out. They aren’t the leaders.
Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin are.
Sidney
Crosby is still struggling and the issue with who to put on his wing on the top
line is more than slightly annoying. Conor Sheary has cooled off but you really
can’t fault the kid for it. He isn’t used to this type of deep playoff run or
the minutes that were going to be asked of him to play. It is just very unfortunate that
the fatigue is hitting him at this moment. Beau Bennett played in his place Sunday after being out (again) to injury, but
was basically non-existent the entire game.
Then
again, so was Kris Letang.
The past
two games have not been his greatest. In fact, they have could be considered
some of his worst. His temper ran out of control in Game 4 which ended up costing the Penguins the game and he is making poor decisions. He also is hesitant
to shoot the puck. He ended Sunday night’s game a minus-4. This simply will not
do and only Kris Letang can control what happens next.
The Lightning are gunning for
him. He knows it. Coach knows it. I know it. The dog down the street knows it.
Now it is time for the other five defensemen to up their game to lunatic level and take some of the work load off of Letang.
Make the heavy hits, be a little agitator (but know the limits), win the battles along the boards to get the puck out of
the defensive zone. That way some scoring chances can be made. Maybe even take a few shots of their own when they see an opportunity as
well.
All in
all, the defense has to bring everything that have. Bear down, get after the
puck and the opponent who has it, make good defensive plays to strip the puck
from that opponent and get it deep into the offensive end. Getting into those shooting lanes when in the defensive
zone and blocking shots make a difference. Leaving your goalie out to dry does
not help matters. They can only stand on their head so much.
But who
is in net? Who will be the starting goalie? Is it Marc-Andre Fleury or Matt
Murray? When will Coach Sullivan tell us? WHO…CARES? No, Fleury didn’t have a great game. He didn’t have an
atrocious game either. The rust was obvious but you would be rusty too if you
did nothing but practice for 2 months after having your bell rung. Murray, like
Sheary, is tired and I had a feeling that would happen. So why is everyone
complaining about putting in the number one goalie? He is and has been the number one for a reason. Be it MAF or Murray, whoever
is in net is NOT going to matter if the Penguins play the way they have been
the last two games and can’t defend a lead. The debate is old hat. Talk about something
else.
I know,
let’s talk about Evgeni Malkin. Can someone please put out an APB on our MVP? He
has had a few good looks and got the assist on one of Chris Kunitz’s goals, but
in his last 22 playoff games, Malkin has only 4 goals and only 9 assists. There
is something very troubling going on there although, I admit, I can’t put my
finger on what it is. It's worse than ever this year. If I had to guess (and at this point that’s all we can really
do), I’d say he is playing hurt. More than just a “take-an-Advil” or “numb it
up and play” kind of hurt as well.
Malkin
was quoted as saying: “It’s a huge game for our leadership I believe in my
team. I believe in myself.”
Actions
speak louder, Malkin. Don’t just say it, do it. This is the time to be selfish. Put your shoulder down and make a lane, get defenders out of your way. For lack of a better example; be a line backer on the ice. Now is the time these stars
need to shine along with their supporting cast, not be out worked and
out-shined by them.
The
power play (oh lord, that power play) and scoring chances are a huge deal. I have heard it over and over:
That so-and-so is looking for a pretty goal. STOP IT!
For the
love of all that is good, please STOP. At this point, any goal is a “pretty goal”
because it puts points on the board. Take the shot and get someone in front of
the net and down in the crease to get the rebounds. Those second, third, even fourth
attempts are the ones that will make a difference. Not one player is above a
little grunt work. That 50-foot shot from the blue line is great when it
results in a good bounce that can be shot on the net. It does not help when it
ends up easily blocked and taken down the other way on an odd-man rush.
“If we play the way we can, we’ll be fine. We’ll
be back here for Game 7. There’s no doubt in my mind” – Patric Hornqvist
The Penguins know how they CAN and have to play. They did it against the
Rangers. They did it against the Capitals- the best team in the regular season.
Clean passes, limit the amount of time dancing with the puck, puck possession/control and take shots…all
shots…whenever and wherever they can. More traffic in front of the net means
more of a chance that puck will find twine.
Resiliency
has been the word of the year. The Penguins now have an opportunity to show
what they are really made of. This is where you lay it all out on the ice. Grit
isn’t just for a bottom-6 grinder, it’s for everyone. Show us that you want it
as much as we, the fans and columnists and reporters and bloggers and all of
Penguins Nation, want it for you.
WE BELIEVE!
Now show us that you do to!
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