The Penguins aren't toast yet but it's almost time to stick a fork in them.
The good news is the Pittsburgh Penguins found a way to score in Games 1 and 2. They didn't score until Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final last season.
The bad news is, it doesn't matter. They still need to win four of the next five games against the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and frankly, I like my odds of winning Lotto 6/49 than the Penguins odds of pulling that off. I can see the Penguins storming back in Game 3 at home, but beat Detroit in four out of five? Dream on.
It is not an impossible task, but highly improbable. The Toronto Maple Leafs did it in 1942 and the Montreal Canadiens in 1966 and again in 1971.
The Penguins blew a golden opportunity. Not only were the Red Wings without a few key components due to injury, they were hoodwinked into playing on just two days rest so that fans all over the United States would have the opportunity to watch Games 1 and 2 on NBC. Apparently somebody forgot to tell the fans in the United States, though. Ratings were down in Game 1.
Nice try NHL.
There are a number of concerns facing the Penguins moving forward, none bigger than their goaltender. I was actually shocked when I saw some people giving the Penguins the edge in goal heading into the series. Unproven Marc-Andre Fleury over three-time Cup winner Chris Osgood? From my perspective it isn't even close.
Osgood is a winner; Fleury is a project. Osgood makes saves when his team needs him most; Fleury allows goals when his team desperately needs a big save. You would be hard-pressed to convince me the Penguins have faith in their stopper now no matter what they say. The Brad Stuart off-the-backboards goal he allowed in Game 1 was a backbreaker, as was Game 2's knuckleball effort by Detroit's Justin Abdelkader.
Here is what Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said after Game 2: "I think in each of the first two games we have been able to play in the offensive zone for periods of time. We've been able to get shots. Been able to outshoot a good Detroit team. But they've been able to get the timely goals. They've been better at getting pucks in and around the net and getting that goal. That's what they've done better and as a result they've got two wins."
What Bylsma probably felt like saying is: "I wish we had the confidence in our goaltender that Detroit has in its goaltender."
Goaltending isn't Pittsburgh's only concern.
Sidney Crosby, the leading contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP entering the final, is pointless through the first two games. If the Penguins were to dethrone the champs, it was imperative that Crosby exert himself from the get-go. Instead it is Detroit rookie Abdelkader that is suddenly a scoring ace. Didn't see that one coming.
Crosby had two shots in the first game and increased that to five in Game 2. If he is to find success he needs to get back to striking from in tight, the way he did in the first three rounds when he piled up 14 goals. For that to happen, he needs to find a way to arrive at the net before the puck does and then battle for position. Easier said than done, but that remains his challenge.
This is the biggest challenge of Crosby's young career.
I am not a fan of Jacques Martin's defense-first coaching style, but I believe he was the right man for the job in Montreal.
Quite simply, Martin is old school and, like his good buddy the late Roger Neilson, would rather lose 1-0 than win 10-9. But when you look at the Canadiens roster, which is certain to undergo a dramatic change in this off-season, coupled with their young, but shell-shocked goaltender in Carey Price, it makes sense to bring in a guy who can teach a defensive system.
The Canadiens have some good young players, but also have a number of unrestricted free agents. Will captain Saku Koivu return? What about Alex Kovalev? My guess is the Habs have seen the last of rising star defender Mike Komisarek, but you never know. Under Martin he may flourish.
I have heard repeatedly the Habs are still trying to acquire centre Vincent Lecavalier from the Tampa Bay Lightning, but if that is the case, then it doesn't make sense to have Martin behind the bench. Time will tell.
The first time I met Joe Nieuwendyk, he was a 15-year-old gazelle playing Junior A lacrosse for the Whitby Warriors. For those who never had the good fortune to watch Nieuwendyk play lacrosse, he truly was the Wayne Gretzky of that sport.
Over the years I have watched him develop first into an NHL star who won three Stanley Cups with three teams and later a respected voice in the game. Although he doesn't have any first-hand experience as an NHL GM, he knows what it takes to be a winner and my guess is he'll be a success in Dallas.
As a side note, my guess is one of Nieuwendyk's first new employees will be his lifelong best friend Gary Roberts.
