Don't plan that parade yet

Yo my yinzer brethren, please do not take this post as overly negative.  Just take it as realistic.  Some of you who may read this post may not be old enough to clearly recall that magical 1992-93 season?  You know that one where the Pens had the record breaking win streak of 17 games, won the President's trophy, and had a lineup that included Lemieux, Tocchet, Stevens, Jagr, Mullen, Murphy, Samuelsson, Barasso, et al?  I was as guilty as anyone of planning the parade, and thinking how great it would feel to win 3 Stanley Cups in a row, hell I was thinking 5!  Then came a man named Richard Pilon, and worse yet David Volek, and I can recall sitting n stunned silence on Short Street in Munhall contemplating what might have been for 15 minutes before I could even MOVE.  That does not mean that we should not enjoy EVERY magical moment of this streak and whatever remaining glory there is in our regular season.  In fact, it means you should relish these moments as we are very lucky to have them.  Also the fact that our management team seems to be ALL IN, addressing the weaknesses that led to early playoff exits should excite you and on paper, I do not currently see a team in the East our beloved Pens SHOULD NOT handle in a seven game series.  But several words of caution are to follow:

First, until the ink dries on all possible trades at the deadline, we do not know what we are really competing against this spring.  There are several teams who with the right tweaks could give Pittsburgh fits;

Second, the line up is championship caliber if healthy.  Recent years have not been overly kind in that area, and currently Malkin, Letang and maybe even Fleury are on the shelf.  This cannot happen come playoff time or the big bad Pens do not look as big and bad;

Third, as that 1992-93 team can tell you, and even last year's team can tell you, the pundits saying you are the best team in the conference or the league does not matter.  You will have to face four quality teams and win 4 best of 7 series for the honor of hoisting that Cup.  The playoffs will test your talent, your depth and your desire in ways that are very hard to even describe! Every opponent will fight you for every inch in every game to take that chance at winning away.  That is why the honor of doing so is to me the greatest glory in all of sports. 

So, I am not saying this team cannot win that chalice, nor am I saying that this does not have me full of hope, even more than most.  I am just saying do not ASS-U-ME as you know what they say! However, if the gods are kind on the injury front, maybe just maybe, we can live these moments again!   Go Pens!!