Will This Eastern Conference Team Miss the Playoffs for the First Time in 16 Years?
When you take a look at the NHL standings, there's a strange sight. The Pittsburgh Penguins are 14th in the Eastern Conference with a meager 4-5-2 record.
They started the season like gangbusters with four wins in five games scoring six goals in each contest. No worries, right?
WRONG! Since then, they have faltered to a 0-5-1 record in their last six games.
So, what's going on with Crosby & Company? Lots of things. After an embarrassing 6-3 loss on Wednesday to the upstart Buffalo Sabres, Evgeni Malkin had this to say.
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It's not easy right now, Malkin said in a hushed tone. It's a tough situation. It's time to deal with this team. It's tough. When you're lost, you need to support each other, help each other. It's time to build up the team. We lost these games in a row. Why not win the next six games in a row?
While Malkin's optimism is encouraging, the team has some real issues to address. The Penguins' biggest problem is that it's their best players who are making the most obvious mistakes.
It's plays like this that must have head coach Mike Sullivan talking in his sleep.
The Penguins are spending a lot of money to keep Malkin and Kris Letang around. So, their lack of effort of late can be attributed to a couple things. Both players are getting up their in age. Malkin is 36, while Letang is 35.
Malkin signed a four-year $24.4 million deal. Letang authored a six-year pact worth $36 million. He will be 40 years old when his deal expires.
While they're both terrific hockey players, age catches up to every professional athlete at some point.
The Penguins are the fourth oldest team in the NHL with an average age of 28.57. Has Father Time caught up to the club?
If their mediocre play continues, the hopes of playing in the postseason will decrease quickly.
Everyone thought the same about the team last season and they finished with a 46-25-11 record good for 103 points and a third place ranking in the Metro Division.
It may be way too early to start counting the Pens out of playoff contention, but something will need to change to get this club going.
They can't get younger instantly, but it sure would help.
| POLL | ||
4 NOVEMBRE | 88 ANSWERS Will This Eastern Conference Team Miss the Playoffs for the First Time in 16 Years? Will the Penguins miss the playoffs for the first time in 16 years? | ||
| If they keep playing poorly, sure... | 25 | 28.4 % |
| Crosby can't do it all | 14 | 15.9 % |
| Players need to step up or they're done | 22 | 25 % |
| No way, they got this | 27 | 30.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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