Two critical factors the Penguins must maintain to avoid trouble, according to NHL analyst
Photo credit: Edit from Idaho State Journal
NHL analyst Jason Mackey believes that if the Penguins want to keep the good vibes rolling and make the playoffs, their special teams will need to remain hot.
The emotion and honesty in Dan Muse's voice as he spoke were undeniable. His press conference after Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken felt refreshing in its rawness, but it also underscored the Penguins' uncertainty as the NHL season reaches its first quarter mark.
Are they a bad team that opened hot or a good team hitting turbulence? It's hard to say. An 8-2-2 start is now weighed against a 2-4-3 November, and the Penguins need progress in several areas to prove their early success wasn't a mirage.
With a Sunday break before games on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday to close the month, it's worth taking a look at what this team has shown in December.
What this Penguins team has shown
There aren't many things that swing more wildly in the NHL than special teams, and there aren't many things that matter nearly as much.
Strong goaltending has kept Pittsburgh competitive, but an opportunistic power play and disciplined penalty kill have also defined the first 21 games.
The Penguins top the league at 32.0% on the power play and sit fourth on the penalty kill at 85.3%. They are 6-3-2 when scoring at least one power-play goal and just 1-4-1 when giving one up.
Why Evgeni Malkin's goal may have changed the tide back in Pittsburgh's favor
That power play had dipped: too much passing, not enough simplicity, before Evgeni Malkin's recent goal. The penalty kill surrendered one during Friday's rough outing, but had killed off 29 of 31 chances over the previous 11 games.
If those units are merely good to great, it can hide a lot of other ills. If they slip at all, the Penguins may have more serious problems, such as missing any opportunity to make the playoffs, according to NHL insider Jason Mackey.
"If these units can remain somewhere between good and great, it'll help the Penguins cover up other weaknesses. If they can't, well, there could be a problem here."
- Jason Mackey
- Jason Mackey
The next stretch won't define the season, but it could reveal which version of the Penguins is real, and how much work lies ahead.
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