With the Penguins, Consistency Is Key

The Penguins Could Be Celebrating Alot More w/
Improved Consistency

As the Penguins and their flock of faithful fans prepare for Game 5 tonight in Pittsburgh, there is still alot that fans and players alike can strive for.  Improvement is still necessary, even after the 7-3 drubbing the Penguins gave the Senators in Game 4 in Ottawa.  What is the main category that needs improvement?  Power Play?  Penalty Kill?  Faceoffs?  Turnovers?  Goaltending?  No, No, No, No, and No.  What needs improved upon?  Its simple...consistency.  If the Penguins can hone in on smoothing out their game, in my opinon, no one will be able to even touch them.  Not the Senators in Game 5, not the Bruins or Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and not anyone that is still alive in the Western Conference. 

You see, consistency is the dominant facet that still needs improved upon in Pittsburgh's game.  If you have watched the Penguins this postseason (and honestly I doubt there is ANYONE reading this that hasn't seen the Pens play this postseason) you have seen the typyical "lull" in the Penguins' game.  No matter how dominant they look at times, there are other times when they look like they are a struggling just to clear the puck out of the zone.  Take a look at the 7-3 victory in game 4.  The Penguins start, well, left something to be desired.  Call me crazy, but giving up a short handed goal on the road in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is certainly not the start too many coaches desire.  The rest of the period was essentially playing catch up by the boys in black n' gold.  I realize that the Penguins can score faster than any other team in the NHL, and that is a tool that hopefully won't need to be utilized too often if the team can play consistently like they did in the 3rd period on Wednesday.

Some might read this and say that I'm knit picking, but I don't feel that desiring a consistent performance is knit picking.  Knit picking would be criticizing Sidney Crosby for not cashing in on his multitude of chances in Game 4. I am NOT saying that.  The fact that the Penguins' Captain was getting those chances only shows that the team's offense was working.  What I am saying is that if the Penguins can avoid those lulls in games where they struggle to even gain the opponent's zone it will only wear down a team physically and mentally...making the Penguins that much more dominant.  I'm not suggesting perfection (even though every coach desires that), no I'm just suggesting consistency.  Playing a solid game for 60 minutes.  Again, if the Pens can accomplish this feat...no one will be able to touch them.  Lets Go Pens!