Penguins Doing What the Penguins Do...Dominate

The Pens Putting an Emphasis on Team Defense has this
team DOMINATING

Well the Pittsburgh Penguins didn't wait long to show fans that the losses of Matt Cooke, Tyler Kennedy, Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray, and Brenden Morrow were just a blip on the radar, a bump in the road, and that they were simply replaceable in the Pens lineup.  The impressive aspect of the Penguins after 2 regular season wins isn't their goal scoring (7 goals in 2 games), but the rate at which they are keeping the puck OUT of the net.  Bob Errey compared Rob Scuderi's return to the Pens as the equivalent of the Peanuts character, Linus, getting his blanket back.  Yeah, pretty ludicrous analogy, but maybe there is something to that.  There have been two HUGE knacks on the Penguins since the team won a Stanley Cup in 2009.  1.) Regular Season success is meaningless. and 2.) The Penguins rely on "outscoring" opponents to win.

I've recently written an article regarding the Penguins regular season success and how "the proof is in the pudding", meaning that this regular season success is meaningless without postseason success that brings another Stanley Cup back to the steel city.  After all, with a lineup as good as the Penguins, isn't every season "Stanley Cup" or bust?  I sure think so.  Ray Shero has made some questionable moves in terms of signing players, letting players walk, and extending contracts for certain Pens.  Nonetheless, he has a nucleus that is second to none in the NHL.  No longer is the early season discussion "Who will play along side Crosby?" instead its "How many points will the Kunitz / Crosby / Dupuis line put up this game?"  Now the question lies within the second line where James Neal's injury leaves Malkin without his "blanket".  Regardless of who is hurt, who has left, or who might be replaced in the lineup, the Penguins success will only be measured by Stanley Cups...and thats it.

The second knack on the Pens is the defense.  It starts and ends with Marc Andre Fleury, but at the same time, its the players in front of him that also were lackluster.  I'm not just talking about defenders, but also the forwards getting back and playing responsible defense in their zone.  The Penguins have improved tremendously in that area this year.  Some say its new assistant coach, Jacques Martin, putting his defensive stamp on the roster.  Some say its the return of Rob Scuderi to anchor another defensive pairing to keep someone back at all times.  Some even credit the forwards to putting a higher emphasis on defense and not always thinking scoring.  If you ask me, its D) all of the above.  Martin is a great defensive mind that can only help the Penguins bring another cup back to Pittsburgh.  Scuderi gives the Penguins another "Brooks Orpik-type" defender that will help anchor down pairings with Kris Letang and Paul Martin to allow them to do "their thing" offensively without having to worry about the back end of the play.  Some credit the forwards, and that is the truth, but defense comes down to the fact that Sidney Crosby has dominated the face off dot, and players seem to show a desire to win puck battles and make plays necessary to win...even though they aren't always pretty.

These Penguins might only be gauged by their postseason success or failures, but for me...its great to see them playing a different brand of hockey and still doing what they do best...dominating.