After Slow Start to Season, Pittsburgh Penguins Come Back Stronger Than Ever

This time last week, Pittsburgh fans were watching their team flounder with a record of 1-3-0 and no wins in the new arena.  
 
The slow start had fans and players alike wondering what was going on as they were defeated by teams they should have handily won against. Even Captain Sidney Crosby didn’t seem overly optimistic of his team’s luck turning around before the team’s chance at the playoffs was gone.

“We have to eliminate some mistakes,” Crosby said after their 4-3 loss to the then undefeated Toronto Maple Leafs.

The next game found back-up goal tender Brent Johnson in the net for the second time this season and a re-energized team on the ice as they went for their first win in the CONSOL Energy Center. A 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders got the proverbial monkey off their back and rejuvenated the energy of their fans.

“We won’t have to answer questions about it anymore. It’s good to get the first one for sure – especially for the fans.” Defenseman Alex Goligoski said after the game.

The most surprising part of the first games was the lack of performance from top players Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.  The big star duo scored only four points between them for the first four games in the season.  

But the weakness of their star players may have been for the better of the team as some of the often overshadowed players stepped into the spotlight to help carry the team and showed just how much depth Pittsburgh has all over the ice.

With both Malkin and Crosby back to their normal form and the confidence of the rest of the players restored, the team looks ready to rebound from their early season losses and make up for lost time.  The addition of injured players coming back to the ice in the coming weeks should make the team even stronger and a legitimate Cup contender if they can keep up their current pace.  

The team is currently on a three game winning streak and plans to extend that on Thursday when they take on the Nashville Predators who fell to the Calgary Flames in overtime on Monday. 

The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Pittsburgh and Pens Radio Online at 8:00 p.m. EST.