Pittsburgh Penguins 2014-15 Season Preview
Nov 27, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (left) congratulates center Evgeni Malkin (71) after Malkin scored a game winning shootout goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the CONSOL Energy Center.The Penguins won 6-5 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
2013-14 RECAP
A team with perennial expectations of reaching the Stanley Cup, the Penguins won the Metropolitan Division quite handily, finishing the regular season with 109 points.
After facing some adversity in the first round, the Penguins ousted the upstart Blue Jackets in 6 games. The Penguins were then eliminated by the New York Rangers in the second round in a game 7 showdown, as the Penguins blew a 3-1 series lead.
Mar 11, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff (10) during the game against the Nashville Predators at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
CHANGES
IN – Patric Hornqvist, Nick Spaling, Steve Downie, Blake Comeau, Christian Ehrhoff, Thomas Greiss
OUT- James Neal, Jussi Jokinen, Brian Gibbons, Tanner Glass, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Deryk Engelland, Lee Stempniak, Taylor Pyatt, Tomas Vokoun
While the finishing ability of Neal will be missed up front, perhaps the biggest loss will be Niskanen on the point. He fit in well on the Pens blue line and used a career season to get a huge contract from the Caps.
May 7, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) in action against the New York Rangers during the second period in game four of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
3 BIG QUESTIONS
1. Health? – The Penguins were ravaged by injury last season, with significant time missed by Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Pascal Dupuis, Kris Letang and Paul Martin. This didn’t seem to affect their performance in the regular season but might have affected symmetry in the playoffs.
2. Flower Power? – There are still questions surrounding Marc-Andre Fleury and his ability to come up big in the clutch. In blowing the 3-1 lead in the second round, Fleury was once again not up to the standards of a Cup winner.
3. Is Mike Johnston Up To The Task? – Dan Bylsma had a Stanley Cup with the Penguins and couldn’t find a way to get the team back to the promised land. Is a rookie head coach going to be able to wrangle all of that star talent and get them working in the same direction?
May 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) skates with the puck against the New York Rangers during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
PREDICTION
For the Penguins, it is Stanley Cup or bust. It would have to be a disaster for the Penguins to miss the playoffs, and the true measure of the team’s success or failure will come between mid-April and mid-June. I think the Flyers nip them out for the division title which will re-focus the team for the playoff run.
2nd METROPOLITAN DIVISION