Staal Showing Frustrations Shared by All Players in Answers

The Pens aren't clicking right now - we can all see that; it's quite apparent with three consecutive losses. The players themselves can't seem to agree on what it is that troubles the team (and don't have any apparent solutions).

Jordan Staal made quite a bold statement last night when he said the players aren't buying into the system, but Sidney Crosby disagreed in his oh-so-diplomatic way we've come to know from him! 

""We just didn't come out prepared for this game," he said. "It seems like the guys aren't buying into our system and working hard, basically. It's really frustrating."

As for why that's the case, Staal couldn't say.

"That's a question that's kind of left unanswered in this dressing room and it's really on each player and what they can do for this team," said Staal.

"It's little plays, just the little things," he said. "I'm definitely one of them. I'm not playing my best and neither are a lot of players on this team. It's a frustrating time right now.""

Jay Caufield put his own spin on Staal's answers trying to defend him with his post-game analysis last night on FSN - Pittsburgh by saying that it's more in what Staal meant than by what he said. Caufield believes that (bear with me here, I'm paraphrasing and do not recall all the words he used) it's not about the players buying into the system, but rather a matter of buying in to how they're playing to make the system work.

But head coach Michel Therrien obviously buys into Staal's way of answering - boldly (however, we're all aware that this is usually typical of Therrien). When asked what he thought of Hal Gill's assessment that the team is still getting to know each other, 

""That's an excuse," he said."

One key element missing - consistency and you can't have a good team (hell, a good game) without it!!!

And in my own humble opinion, I think the team is missing two top defensemen more than anyone is admitting. Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney are amazing for the Penguins -- this may not be so noticeable (or translate well) when the two are on the ice, but take them out of the equation and their importance becomes very apparent!