Marc-Andre Fleury to the Rescue?

However, grinders are the guys that will hold the puck in the offensive zone by chipping it deep, forechecking hard, and generally outworking the opponents in the corners. All this while someone body-wrestles his way in front of the net, looking for table scraps—that is a rebound or a deflection.

While all that is going on, your goalie is not having to block shots. Although you might see Crosby and sometimes Malkin working hard in the corners, that kind of play is not the strength of the Penguins' top two lines, and it shouldn't be.

The problem for the Penguins might be more of a PR one. They are really good at highlight reel hockey—and I for one can never get enough of that—but the blue-collar part of their game needs some work.

Basically, it is time for the Penguins' third and fourth lines to start stepping up and owning the puck, to go along with the occasional brick wall performance needed in net, to produce consistent winning hockey.

So here is the cure for what ails the Penguins: a large dose of grit, about 220 pounds of muscle up front, more dirty goals, and yes, a dash of Fleury.

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