http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Sunday, April 26, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 25: Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Staal celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center. The Penguins defeated the Flyers 5-3 and won the series 4 games to 2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)PHILADELPHIA — There's an obvious star power that emanates from these Penguins, but also a presence.
A confidence, an attitude, an intangible that suggests no matter the situation or circumstance, they've got it covered.
It's there because of No. 87 and No. 71 and No. 29 and a couple of others.
It's there because of what they achieved last season in a postseason run that brought them to within two victories of the Stanley Cup.
And it's there because of what they've been through this season, one that started in Sweden and threatened to collapse shortly thereafter until a coaching shakeup and a couple of late-season roster additions restored order and, eventually, their personality and swagger.
You can't see it but you can sense it.
It's what sustained these Penguins during a rally from a three-goal deficit in what became a series-clinching, 5-3 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at the Wachovia Center.
"These guys have seen it all already," Penguins senior advisor Eddie Johnston said.
That's why, even with the Flyers leading, 3-0, and 20,072 foaming at the mouth, the Penguins refused to fluster.
It's a presence that wasn't there a year ago.
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 25: Evgeni Malkin celebrates after assisting on his teams fourth goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)It explains their rallying from two goals down in the same hostile environment in Game 3, a game they tied but eventually lost.
It accounts for them being badly outshot and outplayed in Game 4 but never losing their focus and somehow finding a way to survive.
It's revealed in Sidney Crosby sitting at his locker, greeting wave after wave of questioners after an opportunity to close the series at home had been blown in Game 5 and insisting, through what he said and through the composed, collected and convincing way he was saying it, that all remained well.
Crosby was being the captain at that moment, even after the game was over.
Based on how the Pens kept coming in Game 6, it's apparent his leadership resonated with teammates eager to follow.
"You develop a trust and a belief," Crosby said. "You never want to put yourself in a difficult situation like we did, 3-0 on the road like this. But I think we also realize if we play the right way we're going to see some good results.
"I think everybody expected more of each other from the last game and we believed we could depend on each other for more."
They'd had their chances in the first 20 minutes of Game 6 — gorgeous, open looks that resulted in either missed shots or shots never taken, many more than the 2-0 score suggested.
Sensing as much, there wasn't any panic, even when it became 3-0.
"There was never any doubt," assistant coach Tom Fitzgerald said.
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 25: Sidney Crosby skates against Matt Carle during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)The Penguins have gradually become hardened that way ever since interim coach Dan Bylsma showed up Feb. 15.
"I think they saw during the early spans, maybe it was that 5-0 road trip, that when you play the right way you become a good team," Fitzgerald said. "And when you do it consistently you become a very good team."
The kind that rallies, rather than rattles, when it's down 3-0 and the entire building is screaming for blood.
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