PITTSBURGH – A clear line of demarcation can be drawn when evaluating how a scuffling Pittsburgh Penguins season became one with the potential to be special.
Everything changed Dec. 12, the day Mike Sullivan walked in the door.
Mid-season coaching changes are usually made out of desperation and often don’t produce immediate results. While there are certainly cases where they have – such as when Dan Bylsma relieved Michel Therrien four months before Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup in 2009 – the change is rarely, if ever, as measurably dramatic as this one.
Consider: Pittsburgh was 27th in goals for, 21st in even-strength shot attempts and 17th in goal differential the day Mike Johnston was fired. Since then it is first, second and first in those categories.
What has gone on here is nothing short of an offensive revolution and it’s vaulted the Penguins within breathing distance of the second round. Even opponents can’t help but notice.
“They were playing a lot different type of system defensively really,” New York Rangers centre Eric Staal told Sportsnet during this first-round series. “They were above pucks and were really, quite frankly, just defensive. They’re playing more of a structure in the neutral zone now, but as soon as they (force) a turnover they’re gone. …
“I think they just started playing with better pace as the year went on. That’s probably been the difference.”
While some might conclude that it’s been a rather obvious transition to make given the number of highly skilled players on the roster, Staal points out that very few teams actually do it.
In coaching circles, sound defensive hockey is often viewed as the best path to success.
“If you look at Detroit and over the years how they played with (coach Mike) Babcock, I think (Henrik) Zetterberg and (Pavel) Datsyuk could have probably led the league in scoring at some point,” said Staal. “They’re good enough. But that’s the way they play. It’s a different system, they’re not going to score 100 points a year because that’s just not the way they play, and they’re in the playoffs every year and they have a chance (to win the Stanley Cup).”
So does this version of the Penguins – they’re just going about it in a different manner.
The turnaround has been aided by a few personnel changes throughout the season, notably the acquisition of defenceman Trevor Daley from Chicago for Rob Scuderi, and the decision to promote speedy winger Conor Sheary from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
But the improved production from those already here has made the most discernable difference. It’s continued right into the post-season, too, with Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang all making a strong mark on the scoresheet against New York.
Perhaps the most impressive stat associated with the Penguins is a team one: After losing the first four games they played under Sullivan in mid-December, they haven’t so much as dropped two in a row since.
It’s a major source of pride among this group.
“I think we just play the same way every night,” said winger Patric Hornqvist. “When we do that there’s a good chance we’re going to win because we have a good team in here. We play with a lot of speed, a lot of confidence.”
Defenceman Ian Cole points to a meeting about a month into Sullivan’s tenure when the coach put some stats on the board that highlighted how poor the Penguins had played in back-to-back games. The message was pretty clear.
“His point was: We need to raise our determination level,” said Cole. “If we lose a game, if we play a game the night before, it doesn’t matter what the situation is. Each game needs to be a stand-alone game.”
That kind of mindset is especially important in the emotional cauldron of playoff hockey.
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The Penguins have put themselves in a favourable position with an opportunity to eliminate the Rangers in Game 5 at Consol Energy Center on Saturday afternoon, but the heat will go up if they lose and have to return to New York.
That’s just how it works.
Sullivan is pretty clear about how he wants the Penguins to play – “our identity is in our speed and our quickness and our pursuit,” he says – and credits his stars for dragging the team out if its early doldrums.
“Those guys deserve a lot of credit for their determination and conviction,” said Sullivan. “Their willingness not to get distracted and get affected by some of the ebbs and flows of the game. We’ve talked about this day in and day out for four months – how are we going to handle adversity?
“That’s the key to being a good team.”
They’ve become one now.
Pittsburgh has done much of its damage against the Rangers on the power play, but it can get the job done at even strength as well. In a 3-2 league it has averaged over 3.5 goals per game under Sullivan by turning the big dogs loose.
“They’re using the assets and attributes they have with how they’re playing,” said Staal. “Just as far as moving the pucks. Letang’s been a horse for them, but they’ve got a couple other guys that can play. They’re just simplifying their game through quick ups with speed and on the attack and making sure they’re countering. When you get that offensive feeling and vibe going, sometimes it seems like it’s easier to score.
“And they’ve scored a lot lately.”
They’ve won a lot, too.
