Penguins Aim for Late Resurgence

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Kuljit Parmar

It is crunch time for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the need to be consistent down the stretch will determine if they can make the playoffs. After observing many contests, the Penguin's lineup has two weaknesses they could work on and utilize as an asset come post-season.

The first weakness would be keeping the lead.

The lineup can score goals and be sharp in the opposing zone, however, defending that lead has come costly for the Pens team. How to combat that would be to be more precise in the neutral zone and when defending, keep both posts of Casey DeSmith backed up during gameplay.

As noted, the team is somewhat struggling with their respective gameplay at times when the stakes are somewhat high and the need to win slips away gradually. To combat that type of slack and losing approach is to motivate the team and re-arranging the way you coach them.

Being creative in a coaching job is nothing new in the sport and the identity of the team relies on the coach himself. The best approach for coach Mike Sullivan would be to utilize a new strategy even though it is last minute.

The plus for the team is that even though the goaltending has not been as consistent from the tandem, it is progressing when the wins are much needed.

The key to winning the games as I will somewhat reiterate is by keeping the fore-check aggressive and detonating goals when the time is right.

The coaching staff has a few important elements on their hand that need to be tweaked and corrected in the next 4 games and from that point we the fans shall see if this team can manifest a playoff spot.

What matters most is that the Pittsburgh management has pushed themselves against a wall, calling on the dismissal of key management figures, and from that ward on, the team must adjust to the balance and importance of asserting themselves.

Keeping the equation open for who they will be playing against in the series opener, most likely the Boston Bruins and I am somewhat confident that this Pittsburgh Penguins team can stand up to them and possibly take the series.

Thankfully the key star players on the Penguins leading the way in each game and by guiding the younger generation as well as getting the depth pieces involved by far developing the team’s needs and getting the players going in a manner that we will be thrilled to see down this stretch till the end.