While some NHL teams have yet to play their 10th game of the season, the Penguins have been busy playing 13 games in 23 days. They have been by far the league's busiest team, playing as many as four games more than some teams. This may be one of the reasons they sit on top the overall standings, but it is not the only reason. The team has gotten off to a great start with eight wins and recieving 18 out of a possible 26 points (8-3-2). They are doing all this with many injuries to key players such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Kennedy, Zbynek Michalek, and Brooks Orpik. This is a tribute to general manager Ray Shero and his staff for putting together a team with phenomenal depth. The team has gotten good offensive production from James Neal and Jordan Staal. Neal has 9 goals, good for second in the league while Staal is on pace for career highs in both goals and points. He seems to finally be developing his offensive game. Evgeni Malkin has looked more like the player he was back in 2009 when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff mvp) but it remains to be seen how his sore knee will hold up. Marc-Andre Fleury is playing very well and the defense led by Kris Letang is playing solid in front of him. Couple this with good play from role players such as Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke, and Joe Vitale the Pens look like serious Cup contenders once again this year. Now lets just get Sid back.
No comments:
Post a Comment