Surprising Pittsbrugh Crosbys - I mean Penguins
The Penguins are currently leading the New York Islanders in the first intermission of their afternoon tilt. If Pittsburgh can hold on for a win, they will improve to 14-0-2 in their last 16 games.
This is the time when those like me, who have long predicted that the oh-so-young Penguins would sputter, stumble and ultimately fall out of the playoff picture before the season was over.
This is still a very young team, but the play of its few veterans, notably Mark Recchi of course, has helped calm its junior core and made them into the hottest team in the NHL since the All-Star break.
Is there enough experience in the dressing room to get the Pens through a long, gritty playoff series? What about four? Do the Penguins, so quiet on the rumour front so far this year, make some noise and bring in another vet or two to ease the burden? Wouldn’t a Martin Gelinas, a Gary Roberts or a Bill Guerin look good adding some depth to this squad?
I still feel this will be a learning year for Pittsburgh, with a disappointing early exit from the second season. However, I’ve been humbled by this team’s play of late and would definitely not want to face them in the first round.