Analyzing the Penguins Successful Start

Fleury has been a key contributor to the success of the Pens so far

Just in case you haven't noticed, the Pittsburgh Penguins have come storming out of the gates this season.  Through 10 games the flightless birds are 6-2-2 and currently tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with Alexander Ovechkin and the vaunted Capitals at 14 points each.  I am going to break down how the Penguins have gotten to this point and what to expect for the rest of the season.

The main reason the Penguins have gotten off to such a rapid start is Mr. Dan Bylsma and his effective team system that shows no matter who is in the lineup the team is a threat to take 2 points at any given night.  Disco is proving to all his doubters that he was the right man to win the Jack Adams award last year for NHL Coach of the Year.  What he has done with this team the last 2 years is downright remarkable.  Let's look at last year, the Penguins were without Crosby for 41 games, Malkin for 39 games, and Staal for 40 games and somehow finished with 106 points, the second most in team history, and in a dog fight to win the division.  The Penguins fizzled out in the first round of the playoffs last year, but that does not take away to what Bylsma and the team accomplished during the regular season.  Now this year, Bylsma and his squad have picked up right where they left off last year without Sid and with a banged up Geno for 3 games and somehow still finding ways to win games.  This team has figured out how to win without their 2 star pivots and whenever they get completely healthy I feel sorry for the rest of the National Hockey League.

The next key to the Penguins fast start has been the sudden goal scoring prowess of James Neal and Jordan Staal.  Lets look at Neal first.  The Penguins picked up Neal at the trade deadline last year and expected him to be the winger of the future for Crosby and to effectively jump right into the lineup and provide the goal scoring that the team desperately needed last year.  With Crosby out of the lineup all last year and so far this year we don't know how well Neal and Crosby will work together, but Neal has finally started to find that goal scoring touch we expected out of him last year.  Through 20 games with the Penguins last year, Mr. Neal only had 1 goal and 5 assists.  We knew Neal had talent, but we just couldn't figure out why he wasn't putting pucks in the net.  Well, this year has been the opposite for Neal who, in just 10 games, has fired 8 pucks past opposing goalies and has gained the confidence that every goal scorer needs.  Goal scoring is a habit and Neal has become addicted.

Next, Jordan Staal has also had a terrific start to the season.  Like I mentioned earlier, Staal missed 40 games last year, and never really got into a groove.  Sure, he had 11 goals and 30 points, but we need more out of Staal, especially with the prolonged absences of Crosby and Malkin.  This year, Staal has been a terror in all 3 zones.  He's been that coveted stud defensive center who can also light the lamp.  It may not always seem like Staal is having a good game, but Staal does the things that don't show up the score sheet. You win with guys like Jordan Staal.  He backchecks, he forechecks, he'll shut down the other teams best center, he plays all 200 feet with no complaints.  I know we wish Staal would chip in on the scoring more often, and maybe he has heard our complaints and used them as fuel to the fire for the start he has had this year.  Through 10 games, Staal already has 5 goals and 3 assists.  If Staal continues on this pace he will end the season with around 40 goals and 30 assists and although that might be unrealistic, he still should end up with at least 30 goals and 60 points.  You might be a Staal hater, but you can't hate those numbers, and if Crosby and Malkin come back healthy this season, Staal is without a doubt the best 3rd line center in the NHL.  When on his game, the guy can do it all.

Maybe the most important reason the Penguins have flown of the gates is backstop Marc-Andre Fleury.  Fleury has been absolutely magnificent so far this season.  There isn't one game you can point out and say that if Fleury had stopped that one shot the Pens would have won.  In past years, that wasn't the case.  Fleury has maybe been a little inconsistent thoughout his NHL career, but I tell you what without Fleury the Pens would have never won the cup and would not be contenders year in and year out.  Fleury can single handedly win games for this team.  He has so much talent and when he gets into a groove , he's virtually unbeatable.  To all you Fleury bashers out there, you need to start watching another sport because you know nothing about hockey.

This team has dealt with so much adversity and so many injuries in the past couple years that if they all return healthy I don't know who can beat them.  Even though I hate being without Crosby and Malkin, it might be a blessing in disguise with the fact that this team has learned to win without them and can take anything thrown their way.  This team has learned to win no matter what the circumstance. They never make excuses, they just go out and win and in this city that's all that matters.  Pittsburgh loves winner and hates losers (ex. Pirates of the last 20 years), and with this lineup the Penguins aren't going to be caught in the latter any time soon.  I believe Malkin will be back sometime this week and Crosby following suit sometime in November.  Kennedys concussion issues have become a concern, but I don't believe he will be out long term and when Michalek comes back in a month this team is poised to make another deep run into June.  Top to bottom no team in the NHL can match our offensive and defensive firepower and if this team starts clicking on all cylinders when healthy, I like their chances to lift the Stanley Cup again for the 4th time in team history.  Let's go Pens.

By contributing writer-Jeff Gingell