The Surprising Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguin coach Dan Bylsma was awarded a three year extension this week, which isn’t a surprise for a coach that won a Stanley Cup just two years ago. The thing is, while his team’s Stanley Cup win was impressive, it may not be the most impressive thing he has done in his three years on the bench.
Arguably, you have to say that this season has been Bylsma’s best coaching job. Why? Because there is no bleeping way that the Penguins should be in the position they are in with their two best players sidelined by injuries. And no, we aren’t talking about two “regular” best players either, we aren’t talking about Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two of the best players, if not the two best players, in the NHL. And yet, two months after losing Crosby and a month after losing Malkin for, all intents and purposes, the year, the Penguins are not only going to make the playoffs, but they still have an outside shot at a number one seed.
How have the Penguin’s done it? How about the best penalty killing in the league and a duo of goalies, #1 Marc-Andre Fleury, and #2 Brent Johnson who both have GAA of around 2.33. So with two injuries that may have killed any other team’s chances, the reason why the Penguins have continued to thrive may have more to do with the way that the team plays then any of the stats you see on the page. Even with Crosby being, arguably, the most popular player in the league, the Penguins have always been more a team then a supporting cast. The team has rallied together not because they have lost their superstar, but instead because they lost a valueable member of the team. The difference is that instead of feeling like a crisis, they have treated it like a challenge which they are ready to take on.
So how will the Penguins perform in the playoffs? In truth, it all comes down to their goaltending. With their two offensive weapons gone, a run in the playoffs will have to be predicated on whether or not the Theury and Johnson can continue to hold their opponent to two or less goals a game. If they can continue to kill penalties and get goals where they can, you may be surprised at how far the Penguins may be able to go. Of course, if they can win another cup without their two superstar players, don’t expect Bylsma’s to get another extension, expect him to get his own freakin’ statue.
