Pittsburgh Penguins: Could Inconsistent Play Be a Blessing in Disguise?

After a string of inconsistent games, the question of "What's going on with the Pittsburgh Penguins lately?" has been asked with a concerned undertone, but few notice how this inconsistent play could be a blessing in disguise for the team this season.

Fans and analysts have pointed fingers at possible reasons for this inconsistency problem, and they include not enough talent on the wings, poor coaching, poor performances from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and a crippling power play. According to postgame and practice interviews from the players, it all comes down to a lack of execution.

These are all true statements made with good supporting evidence, but none of these factors are applicable unless the team's overall lack of drive is taken into account.

The Pens' play this season, on multiple occasions, doesn't mimic any intense desire to win. They've allowed leads to slip away at the end of a game, and were unable to cash in on opportunities late in a game to tie the score.

Hockey has always been considered an emotional sport because of how emotion can help a team take over a game, be it through a fight, a short-handed goal or even fluky goals. With the Pens, emotion has always played a huge part in the way they play their hockey games.

Looking back at their successful 2008-2009 NHL season, emotions became a catalyst for their end of season surge to make it through the playoffs, emerging with the Stanley Cup. The Pens were playing mediocre hockey and admitted that coming to practices and morning skates was more difficult that usual.

The team, from coaching staff to players, was uninspired.

A coaching change that brought Dan Bylsma to the team with a fresh face, mind and system seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. Under Bylsma the Pens went 18-3-4 to end the season, placing them fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, and the rest is history.

We could attribute the Pens' ability to win the Stanley Cup because of the different system implemented under Bylsma, one that was more aggressive and offensively-minded in contrast to former head coach Michel Therrien, who implement a defensive strategy. It can also be attributed to trades bringing Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz and Craig Adams on the team and the return of Sergei Gonchar from injury.

However, the underlying reason why those changes created a positive result is the change in attitude that supplemented the systematic and player changes.

After playing like an average team, the Pens, who were out of a playoff spot before the changes, finally found something to fight for when those changes came to be. Everything had been placed into perspective during the dark times of the beginning of the season, and now they had a new focus and everyone was willing to fight for it.

With the inconsistent play that has plagued the Pens since the start of this season, they have been given the opportunity to refocus as a team within tough times. The frustration shared by the players can become a way to bring the team together to fight for the Stanley Cup.

The issue is finding that triggering moment to snap the players out of their funk and into reality. It could come in the form of a trade, but increasingly popular rumors note that it could be another coaching change.

Or it could simply come down to the voice of a leader in the locker room.

The idea that people grow the most in bad times applies in life, but especially in sports. The Pens are facing some strange times despite a roster filled with talent from top to bottom, but so much good can come from growing and learning in these times.

The Pens just need to want that change and demand it of themselves together.

As fans, we should be grateful that these problems are coming at the beginning of the season, because it gives them time to find a solution and make things better. We should also realize that a bad slump isn't the end of the world, but rather a chance to regroup as a team and remember what it takes to be the last team standing in June.

Laura Falcon is a Featured Columnist for the Pittsburgh Penguins and a college writing intern for Bleacher Report. Follow her on Twitter or email her at [e-mail] with any comments.