The mindset of several hockey analysts and those critical of Crosby and Malkin's teammates without them left Pittsburgh up the creek without a paddle, some saying that the Penguins couldn't win without both of their superstars, along with injuries to other players like Chris Kunitz and Mark Letestu. Those who were skeptical of the Pittsburgh Penguins never took a look at what the Penguins had that other teams don't have, a supporting cast with experience.
When you look at the other players on the Penguin roster, you see experience and chemistry that other teams don't display. The Pittsburgh Penguins roster has 12 players on their roster who were a part of the 2009 Stanley Cup Winning team. It's a moment like this when other general managers envy the work of Ray Shero when it comes to keeping the core of a team together. You can see it through players like Crosby and Malkin taking lower pay to stay together and other players taking smaller contracts with fewer years in them. The Penguins received experience with a former teammate in Alex Kovalev, who may not be the same Penguin he was in the late 1990's, but he does bring the same experience Billy Guerin and Gary Roberts brought to the team from 2008-2010.The Penguins also received James Neal and Matt Niskanen from Dallas. These two are still getting used to the Penguins system, but Neal has been present in shootout situations and Niskanen has integrated well into an already strong Penguin defense.
The man between the pipes deserves a lot of credit for the Penguins current position going into the playoffs. Team MVP and possible Hart Trophy candidate Marc-Andre Fleury has stood on his head several times this season, especially when the Penguins offense became anemic at times with all the injuries. Fleury's performance against Florida on Sunday showed why he is the MVP of the tem this year. Brent Johnson has been on his game as a back-up and proved that he doesn't take garbage from anyone.
It would be wrong to not recognize the work of the players in the Penguins farm systems in Wilkes/Barre Scranton. The Baby Penguins are in the run for the Calder Cup and will walk away with the best regular season record in the American Hockey League. Dustin Jeffrey, Ben Lovejoy, Joey Vitale, Tim Wallace, Ryan Craig and Brett Sterling have all answered the call for the Penguins and player like Jeffrey and Lovejoy have become regulars for the Pittsburgh Penguins. An NHL team needs a good farm system to provide reinforcements and the Penguins have that.
The Penguins sealed a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Saturday with a Carolina Hurricane lost. While it looks like the Penguins are guaranteed the fourth seed and home ice in the first round, they still have a shot at the Atlantic Division title and home ice throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. They currently sit 2 points behind the Philadelphia Flyers, who they play on Tuesday for the final time in the regular season at Consol Energy Center. The Flyers do have an extra game to play but a Pittsburgh win would make the final two weeks in the season interesting in the Atlantic Division. But when you think about Pittsburgh's situation, it is amazing to think that they not only can get home ice in the first round, but they could possibly finish at the top of the East, without Crosby and Malkin playing together since January. So, with Crosby back at practice, with his return still up in the air, can the Penguins go far in the playoffs without him, and what are their chances if he does return come Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals?
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