More Than a Slump: Why the Pittsburgh Penguins May Be Showing Their True Colors

Whether referred to as a slump, slide, skein, tailspin, or speed bump, most National Hockey League teams endure at least one during the course of an 82-game season.

It is believed the good teams should be able to persevere through the low points, learn from them, and move on as a better hockey club.

But what if the perceived slump is really an accurate reflection on a team's true quality? What if, instead of a needed call-to-arms, a stretch of poor play is merely a symptom of some deep malignancy threatening to sabotage an entire year's work?

These are the unpleasant questions facing the Pittsburgh Penguins after they extended their downward trend with a disheartening come-from-ahead 5-3 loss in Nashville Thursday night. The defeat pushed Pittsburgh below Florida into a previously unfathomable 10th position in the Eastern Conference on the merits of a 6-12-1 record since Dec. 3.

In the opening weeks of the season, this appeared to be the Year of the Penguin (apologies to the traditional Chinese calendar), a season in which a burgeoning Pittsburgh powerhouse would sustain a high level of play for the balance of the schedule, earn a high seed for the playoffs and attempt to top last spring's surprise run to within an inch of a Stanley Cup Final Game Seven.

A quick glance at the first quarter of the season shows a team ostensibly riding high with a 13-5-3 record, including a six-game winning streak and without a regulation loss in eight straight.

Upon closer inspection, though, many of those early-season successes acted as cover-up for unsightly blemishes.

For instance, an improbable nine of the 13 wins were of the come-from-behind variety. Of course, it is surely a promising sign when a club shows the ability to right itself after an early deficit, but depending on a late rally on a regular basis is obviously not an ideal strategy.

Furthermore, even some of the "routine" wins were anything but. A 2-0 lead over the rival Flyers Oct. 14 turned into a 2-2 overtime tie before Pascal Dupuis bailed the Pens out with a game-winner. On Nov. 6, Pittsburgh netted the first five goals of the game, only to watch Edmonton storm back with four straight, eventually forcing Marc-Andre Fleury to make a tough save at the horn to prevent overtime.

It's easy to forget, but Nashville wasn't the first team to rally from three goals down to beat the Penguins this year. That honor belongs to the Washington Capitals, who stormed to a 4-3 stunner Oct. 16 at Mellon Arena after surrendering the first three tallies.

So, despite impressive results at the season's quarter pole, perhaps Penguins followers shouldn't be too surprised to see the losses mounting and rumors spreading about potential changes to player personnel and the coaching staff.

Embarrassing home losses to Toronto, Tampa Bay and Florida by a combined score of 15-4 have simply removed the Joker-like faux-smile painted on by the quick rush to the top of the standings. Only the scars remain.

The 2008-2009 season's second act has just begun. Penguins third-year general manager Ray Shero faces his stiffest challenge yet: turning around a star-laden production now playing to poor reviews.

As usual, the critics are lurking, waiting to see if the unexpected flop continues. A playoff encore seems distant, yet reachable if the right moves (or non-moves) are made.

Forty games left until the curtain drops.