Yes, you read my title correctly. And no, I didn’t nibble on the bottle or abandon my senses. (At least not completely.)
I repeat. Can our Penguins win a Stanley Cup?
In 2017-18, no one expected the expansion Golden Knights to go all the way to the Finals. But they did. I’ve written on several occasions that this black and gold couple has a ‘Misfits’ feel to it.
We have a passel of players like Connor Dewar, Brett Ear, Blake Lizotte, Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak And Stuart Skinner who have settled elsewhere, but may be looking for a little redemption.
Others, especially Justin Brazeau, Egor Chinachov, Ryan Shea, Arthur Silov And Parker Wotherspoonare still trying to establish their bona fide reputation in the big league.
Wrap that around a core of superstars determined to show everyone that age is just a number, especially in the case of Evgeni Malkin?
You have a highly motivated group that feels like they have something to prove. One that demonstrates tremendous esprit de corps, not to mention a palpable joy and all-for-one mentality. It seems like these guys really like each other and enjoy playing together. And they are hungry for success.
Not to mention the pride of our leadership group. You think Gen, Sidney Crosby And Kris Letang don’t you want to hoist another cup in the worst way? Erik Karlssonat?
It’s not just the intangibles that make me dream of Lord Stanley’s chalice. If everyone is healthy, coach And Muse can roll four continuous lines. I can’t think of another NHL club that can match us in terms of productivity, balance and chemistry. Even our battling fourth line is a game changer.
Our special teams are among the best in the league. We also hold our own 5v5.
Ah, Buker, but what about our defense? Patchwork at its best.
I agree it’s a no-name group aside from Karlsson and Letang, both of whom are enjoying a resurgent season. However, Muse and its associates have had incredible success with retread tires such as Shea, Wotherspoon and aggressive tires. Connor Clifton. Kulak has been a stabilizer since his arrival.
Furthermore, Muse’s attacking, connected style is designed to take the heat off our defense and goalkeepers and directly onto the opponents. We are 13e in the league with the fewest shots allowed per game (27.8). Eighth in goals allowed per match (2.84).
Nothing too shabby.
What it comes down to? We keep the puck out of our net.
A big part of that puzzle was of course the play of our goalkeepers. Skinner in particular was a revelation.
How good has Big Stuuuu been? Over his past eight starts, he is 7-1 with a .934 save percentage. To say he’s in trouble right now is the understatement of the century.
Okay, so that level of play might not be sustainable for a netminder who has experienced his share of highs and lows. But with his size, positioning and calmness under fire, he reminds me very much of a young boy Matt Murrayalbeit with a better glove. And we know what the kid accomplished before health problems and his father’s death brought him down.
Big Stu has also been tested in the playoffs after going to the finals with the Oilers for two consecutive seasons.
As for Silovs? Last season, Arturs helped his Abbotsford club to an AHL Calder Cup, while earning post-season MVP honors. He’s been solid lately. As for his Achilles heel? There are no shootouts in the postseason.
Reasons why we don’t win a cup? The strength of the competition, especially teams like Tampa Bay, Colorado and Dallas. Personally, I don’t think there’s anyone we can’t hold our own with over a seven-game set.
Age may be another factor. However, I’m reminded that the ’01-02 Red Wings won a Cup with Over-40s Chris Chelios And Igor Larionov in key roles, not to mention the 37-year-old Brett Hull and 36 year old captain Steve Yzerman.
Plus, we’ve missed the postseason three years in a row, which means we should be relatively fresh.
I see injuries as the biggest threat to our cup chances. When Malkin and Lizotte went down in December, we went on an eight-game losing streak. But even that terrible 0-4-4 trajectory had value. From the coaching staff onwards, it has taught us how to overcome adversity. And every cup champion faces setbacks.
If the team continues on its current course? I wouldn’t be surprised to see POHO Kyle Dubas smart deals for reinforcements coming at the trade deadline. He certainly has the space to do it.
I’ll close with a hidden statistic. Excluding the aforementioned losing streak and including our 5-1-1 preseason, the Pens have a record of 31-11-8. That’s one .720 points percentage.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Call me a dreamer. Say I’m unrealistic.
I choose to believe.
#Penguins #win #Stanley #Cup