Penguins in odd position of being an Eastern Conference sleeper

By Kevin Allen
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2019/04/04/pittsburgh-penguins-stanley-cup-playoffs-sleeper/3357119002/
April 4, 2019

Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks for the puck while playing the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on April 02, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the most talented team in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Capitals are the defending NHL champions. The Boston Bruins are a trendy playoff pick in the East.

Feels like we are forgetting somebody.

The New York Islanders are the intriguing team because of coach Barry Trotz. We cannot ignore the Toronto Maple Leafs. Inconsistent or not, they still have Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Even the Carolina Hurricanes are drawing attention as the new kids on the block.

Still feels like an important team is missing.

That team is the Pittsburgh Penguins, and for the first time in many years, this Sidney Crosby-captained squad could sneak up on the competition in the postseason.

They are two years removed from winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and have won 20 playoff rounds since 2008, and yet nobody is talking about them.

Nobody seems to have noticed that the Penguins are 15-6-4 since Feb. 11, even though they are playing lately without injured Evgeni Malkin (since March 16) and Kris Letang (since March 23).

The Penguins aren’t one of the favorites, but they can upend any team in the Eastern Conference, including the Lightning. No one would be shocked if the Penguins reached the Stanley Cup Final.

With Malkin and Letang expected back for the playoffs, the Penguins might legitimately be the Eastern Conference sleeper. 

What makes the Penguins most dangerous are Crosby, Malkin and Letang, who have 446 games of NHL playoff experience.

“Experience only helps so much,” Crosby told USA TODAY Sports. “But there a lot of experienced teams that don’t make the playoffs. Look at L.A. and Chicago. Their core groups have stayed intact … but it is difficult.“

Crosby likes the Penguins’ approach of mixing the core players with an infusion of new faces to keep the group fresh.

What’s interesting about this year’s team is that it is counting on some younger players, such as winger Jared McCann and defenseman Marcus Pettersson, both 22.

General manager Jim Rutherford also acquired Nick Bjugstad, 26, who has eight goals in 30 games. Rookie Teddy Blueger, 24, has found time at center.

“The best situation is to have a mix of experience and some younger players,” Crosby said.

The Penguins, who haven't officially clinched, have a different look than they had in 2017, but they remain dangerous. No Eastern team wants to face them in the first round.

“We’ve been in playoff mode for three weeks, four weeks,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “Nothing has changed.” 

Another Pittsburgh constant is concern about Phil Kessel’s postseason readiness.

His below-average, all-around game is overlooked because he steps up in big games (18 goals, 45 points during the Penguins’ back-to-back playoff runs). But every year, there’s wonder about whether this will be the year when he doesn’t get it done.

He was held to one playoff goal last year, and this year the worry seems greater.

Kessel’s goal in Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings was his first even-strength goal since Jan. 30. He has four goals in his past 30 games, and his plus-minus is -15 since Jan. 2.

Jake Guentzel is the Penguins’ top goal scorer now, but Kessel’s scoring touch is still crucial for Pittsburgh's postseason success. The Penguins have two Hall of Fame-caliber centers. They need two premium scorers.

No opponent will want to face them then.