Posts have been fewer and further between this year, a lot going on............as I sit watching an excellent 2-2 game after 2 between the Pens and the Habs, I have to do something I have not done often here, which is criticize the management/coaching of the Penguins..........they have a great record, so perhaps they think they can sweep it under the rug, but the Pens power play is such a joke they truly should consider declining the penalties when the come. And IF the management of this team thinks it is okay that they have the third worst PP in the league because they are still winning, ask the Steelers if they wish they would have looked into some of the trends that have really come home to roost in taking a 6-2 team to 6-6, losing to putrid teams like the Chiefs and Raiders. They ignored the troubling trend of horrid special teams, putrid fourth quarter defense, horrible short yardage offense, and look at them now. Struggling to put away the team from the mistake by the lake to remain above .500. I am not saying that the Pens are destined to suffer a similar fate, but why should we think that it is impossible? I have now heard three different analysts discuss the issues with the Pens power play.........a consistent major symptom seems to be having Malkin and Crosby both on the right side of the ice for most of the time and BOTH gravitating towards playing the half wall because both want to. According to an Eastern Conference scout, this makes defending the Penguins power play easy because the two main threats are on the same side of the ice, allowing the defense to collapse on them and effectively take away the advantage. Add to this the continued issue of too many passes, and too few shots and you have a horrible power play populated by premiere athletes. Despite the fact that one of these guys will not like it, Bylsma needs to dictate that these two players will be on opposite sides of the ice. The power play was very effective in the 2008 playoffs with Malkin on the point and Crosby on the half boards. Malkin was not thrilled with this, but who the F cares? It was effective, and the team won. This is the first time I have heard of issues that lead me to believe that our superstars are not as "team first" as I had always believed. If Bylsma and Yeo cannot get one of these two to "take one for the team," what does that say about this team? If the power play were even average, maybe you let it slide, but thus far the PP has been anemic, and a real drain on momentum. The special teams play in the NHL is akin to the turnover ratio in the NFL. If you lose the special teams battle in the NHL you usually the game, just like losing the turnover battle in the NFL. The Pens have defied that stat thus far, but it will not be forever. Finally, an ineffective power play will encourage some of the teams like the Flyers to take runs at our key players if there is little threat of it costing them goals......A deadly power play is as effective as the best enforcer in protecting your star players. Bylsma, it is way past time to exert your control, and not allow for a prima donna attitude to diminish the potential of this marvelously talented group of players. This team is primed to compete for the hardware for years to come, but the tail cannot wag the dog, or their chances at greatness are diminished. Address it sooner, rather than later, as Mike Tomlin will tell you, the road from the top of the mountain to the bottom is not nearly as long as the road up said mountain. If all else remains equal and the PP clicks at all, this team will be very tough to deal with.
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