Somebody wake the Penguins up from this November hibernation. When they wake up they'll notice they are no longer in a playoff spot
The team has had a lot of games against the Western Conference so far, they have a lot of back to back games, and recently have had to navigate an Evgeni Malkin injury. Bad news, the rest of the league doesn't care. Things aren't just going to magically turn around with this roster. When Pittsburgh wins it is usually assisted by the power play because they are still dead last in the league in goals for per 60 at even-strength (1.74). The team can't score at 5v5. It is shooting percentage related. Pittsburgh is a woeful team this year in that area. Some of it has been bad luck. Some of it has been the fact they had a lot of players to replace and didn't really replace any of them. The shooting talent of this team isn't where it used to be.
I mean if we threw daggers at Shero/Bylsma for the depth towards the end of their tenure then I think those same daggers apply here.
Carter Rowney is officially back in the Penguins lineup. Puck drops soon. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/O72v7PxSDV
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 24, 2017
I want to tread carefully with what I'm about to say because there is no guarantee this player will be able to effectively make an impact yet, but the first thing you think of about Daniel Sprong is that shot. You have a team that is failing miserably in this area. So what if the perception is that he can't play defense. He'll fit right in with everybody else! I'm not sure why "defense" is held against younger skilled players, but they older veterans who are mediocre at best defensively and abysmal offensively get free passes all the time in this sport.
Is Ryan Reaves helping the team accomplish anything? The entire premise of his inclusion on this team is to make Sidney Crosby feel comfortable. Perhaps Sid is a little bit too comfortable because he's off to the worst start of his career.
Yeah that's as bad as you'll see it. pic.twitter.com/hb30iosv1q
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) November 25, 2017
So Sidney Crosby isn't performing and for that matter neither is Reaves. Considering you have a guy like Josh Archibald that could at least give the team some much needed speed and Daniel Sprong who could give them a legitimate shot in the lineup. They get neither and this magical comfort ain't working for 87 either.
This is who the team is for the most part. It's flawed. They can still win enough games to make the playoffs. They could also find themselves missing out on them. Things could really go either way and is that really where you want to be when the goal is obviously winning for the third year in a row?
There is growing desperation growing among some of the NHL GM's around the league right now. Pittsburgh's might be joining that group in short order.
Things don't get any easier tonight. Pittsburgh will play host to one of the best teams in their conference, Tampa Bay.
Thanks for reading!