It’s been a long while since I last wrote. In that time, the Pens managed to get their act together and play up to their potential. Reeled off a giant winning streak, lost one, and came back to defeat the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Evgeni Malkin is completely on fire. The level at which he is playing is truly something that must be seen to be believed. He’s everywhere. He’s scoring goals, he’s playing great defensively, he’s stickhandling through entire teams. I’m terrified that he’s going to burn out, but he’s doing the opposite. He keeps getting better. At some point his production will trail off a little, but…my God.

An alarming trend that is returning in the NHL, and this is something Jesse Marshall at Faceoff Factor has spoken about, is the system some teams are playing against the Pens (among others). That system? Slightly hold up the forecheck in the neutral zone and then collapse around the goaltender, keep all shots to the outside, and wait for an opportunity to spring someone.

It’s horribly boring hockey that takes ALL skill out of the game. Remember how magnificently boring (and therefore horribly tense) the 2010 series vs. MTL was? I don’t even want to think about that series, let alone see it Jesse does a great job of breaking down the how-and-why the system is troublesome, especially for teams like the Pens. Totally worth the read.

Continued after the break…

Other things and goings on in Walt’s world…

The biggest, and potentially most important, is that I met somebody. It has been a very long time (about 2 years) since I was last on the dating scene. That was, in large part, by my own choice until I got my life straightened out. I didn’t feel I was in any position to manage a relationship until I could manage myself. The last thing I needed in life was to bring someone else down. I didn’t need to bring them down to my level during that period.

People who knew me personally over the last few years knew just how awful and intolerable I was. I treated everyone I knew poorly and was just not that great of a person to be around. I’ve really made a concerted effort to improve that. I’ve eliminated many of the variables that were bringing me down and worked towards a more meaningful, purposeful life. And since making changes and improving my station, I’ve made an effort to find someone special. I am, by no means, ready to declare that search definitively over, but I met someone. And she is very special.

Things are still in the early stages and I try not to put the cart before the horse, but I can’t help but get excited when I meet someone. Sometimes I say things that are incredibly stupid. Sometimes I am a complete fool. This is not that uncommon. It’s worse when it’s someone I really dig. I end up putting my foot in my mouth way too often. Hopefully not so often that they tuck tail and run. Without getting into too much detail or revealing personal information, just know that she’s a wonderful person and getting to know her has made me want to be a better man. She is bringing out the best in me (which, consequently, also brings out some of my worst qualities, like just how intense of a person I can be) and I am trying, trying, trying to not screw this up.

Additionally, I’ve finally, both in terms of money and time, been able to make an investment in my health. I found a deal that was too good to pass up and finally invested in the elliptical trainer I’ve wanted for some time. I’ve allowed myself a few days here and there just to rest so that I don’t over-extend myself, but I try to run at least 3 miles a day. I also invested in some resistance bands, but those only recently arrived. I haven’t really been able to use them much. I’ve been trying to eat a better (and more regular) diet as well as become much more active.

This attempt at improvement is multifaceted. I don’t deny my search and finding of the aforementioned girl has played a major role in this. I want to make myself a better person, and that includes better physically. She is incredibly supportive of this effort, too, which gives me that extra bit of motivation I need some days. On top of that, I want to do this for myself. I want to feel better and look better. I want to be around for a while and the direction I was headed before was not a great path.

It has been a period of incredible change for me. Sometimes I’m riding high and sometimes I’m real low. Much like the Pens’ season, it’s been an up and down affair. Hell, I go through those extreme highs and lows in the span of a day. It’s a wild time for me and I appreciate people’s patience right now.

We’ll not even get into the discussion about the incredible level of stress I’m feeling from work. Unreal level of stress. February is going to be the worst month for me. We’ve been plugging away pretty much since New Year’s day and don’t stop until March 2, when Spring Break rolls around. Once Spring Break hits there’s only about 9 weeks left in the school year. This semester is just going to get crazier and crazier.

Thus is life in my manic-depressive mind.

And that brings you up to speed.

-Walt

Sid loves Pittsburgh and wants to play but is not cleared.

That wasn’t what people, including the folks at Hockey Night in Canada, were talking about. They were, instead, talking about the other odds and ends in the article. I don’t want to say these parts were hidden, but they were NOT the main purpose of the article. Kovacevic noted that some players, and the locker room as a whole, were sort of lost at sea. The locker room had become troubled by Sid’s absence and a few players held a private meeting about naming a temporary captain while Crosby recovers.

Thus the fallout began. Hockey Night in Canada tackled this, among other outlets, but the whole story is not being told. We’re never going to get the ugly, stinky details of it. And it isn’t OUR business to know who said what. We are not a member of the Penguins organization, no matter how entitled we feel. We will never know, with any degree of certainty, about who was in this alleged meeting, when or where it took place, etc.

As far as we know, Craig Adams came out and said no such meeting ever took place and that’s all we need to know.

I love Craig Adams as much as the next guy (and none can love that man more than Griggsy), but he’s doing his job here. He’s a respected member of the team AND is the team’s representative for the Player’s Association. The last thing the PA, especially Donald Fehr, wants going into the back half of the season prior to CBA negotiations is talk of disaster and turmoil in a marquee franchise locker room. The league and PA both need Sidney Crosby and the team, even the image of the team, undermining Sid or his leadership is bad messaging going into labor negotiations.

By no means am I a tried and true journalist. I’ve had a long history with “New Media” journalism, but even that has been touch and go. I do know enough about how the industry works, though. Kovacevic is not some hack writer or some blogger looking for hits. He’s a legitimate sports journalist with a long history of good, reliable reporting. There is a process a story must go through and many hands must touch it before it finally goes live. I am certain that Kovacevic disclosed all of his anonymous sources to his editors and various supervisors and everything was checked thoroughly. He is allowed to withhold those names. He doesn’t OWE us anything.

He is protecting the individuals. Perhaps it was a lapse in judgement by the players who held the meeting, but that doesn’t mean Kovacevic gets to play the role of public avenger. Imagine he runs the story with the names of those players. Everyone turns against them and it creates a bigger problem. Then the team becomes more insulated and allows fewer and fewer press in the locker room. Those players who held the meeting are outsiders on the team and must be traded before the cancer grows. Will other teams take a chance on a “locker room cancer?”

Just because we want to know every dirty little secret about this team doesn’t mean we’re going to get it. If you want Kovacevic’s head on a plate for running the story I think you need to take off those rose-colored glasses for a few minutes.

This meeting happened. They can deny and say all the right things, but this meeting happened. Deal with it. It happens to everyone. Last I checked, the Pens were a pretty God-awful team for a few weeks and completely shot themselves in the foot during that stretch. This meeting was needed, if for nothing else than to maybe light a fire under a few people (not Sid).

So, the story runs and the players do what in response? They ALL wear the Captain’s C at practice. They do something as a team, showing support. They all get it together. The fans all place C’s on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. The team and fans have come together again. And the Pens start winning again.

For better or worse, the team may have needed that crisis moment. For as bad of a team as they were for weeks prior, this Pens team just showed what it means to be a -good- team. They faced adversity and used a teachable moment to rise up to the challenge. Maybe it’s only temporary, too. We’ll just have to wait and see how things go, but it looks like the message was received.

To say the Penguins are struggling would be an understatement. At the halfway point, the Penguins find themselves in 8th place in the Eastern Conference, with 46 points. They are 12 points back of the New York Rangers for 1st place in the Atlantic Division (as well as the Eastern Conference). They sit precariously one point ahead of Winnipeg and two points ahead of the Washington Capitals for that final playoff spot. To break things down further, let’s divide things into three categories….

The Good:

—>The Penguins are one of five teams in the conference with a positive goal differential. The Bruins, Rangers, Flyers, and Maple Leafs also are on the plus side, and those teams are also currently holding playoff spots. Usually, teams on the positive end of goal differential for the season are doing well, and find their way into the post-season.

—>James Neal has been a massive contributor to the team offensively. After a hot start in October (a common feature of a Neal season), many feared that he would cool off as the season wore on (also common for Neal). While his goal-scoring pace has dwindled some, he is still in the Top 10 in goals, as well as being the top power play goal-scorer in the NHL. For a team with notorious power play struggles, Neal’s success with the man advantage has been so important.

—>Marc-Andre Fleury is (at worst) in the top 5 of goaltenders in the NHL, and his play has kept things together defensively (more on that in a moment). His positioning continues to improve, which has made his fundamentals very strong. He also still has the athleticism to make the big saves at key times, even when a goal seems so likely for the opposition. His puck-handling still could be better (even though he’s much better than the average fan gives him credit for), but overall, MAF has been nothing short of stellar between the pipes.

—->Matt Niskanen has made a huge leap in the last 11 months. During his first couple months here, Niskanen struggled greatly at times, leading to many wanting to run him out of town in the off-season. Fortunately, Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma were patient with the defenseman, and that patience paid off in a big way. Niskanen is only behind an injured Kris Letang in defensive scoring, he has the top plus/minus stat on the team, he’s replaced Letang on the top power play unit with no shakiness at all, and has taken on more minutes per game, handling that workload increase with little difficulty. In the last handful of games, Niskanen has been less noticeable, but considering how bad things have looked lately for the entire team, being unnoticed is a positive thing.

—->Also worthy of note: Pascal Dupuis had a great start to the season, with very high point totals, especially in October and November. While Dupuis has faded into his usual secondary role lately, Evgeni Malkin has come to the forefront once again. He has found his way into the Top 10 in points in the league, and continues to be a consistent threat despite being the “last man standing”, in terms of the three well-known centers in the Pens’ lineup.

The Bad:

—->On a macro level (and I am an Economics major, so this is how my brain works), the biggest problem is the lack of consistency. And I don’t just mean game to game. Sometimes, it’s period to period. Sometimes, it’s shift to shift. On occasion, it’s even a problem during shifts. This is mostly a focus and concentration problem, it seems. And that’s a rather large issue, in my eyes. It means that both the coaches and players are failing. The coaches haven’t absolutely hammered home the need to play the same way every time that the players get on the ice. And the players haven’t felt the need to play the same way every time they get on the ice. The most frustrating part of this is that there have been long stretches where the team has looked like the best in the league. Back to back performances against Buffalo and Chicago showed that they have that capability. And there have been other times where they looked just as good, if not better. But then there have been stretches that are so awful, you wonder if this team is capable of making the playoffs. Consistency needs to be the goal. And that goal needs to be achieved.

—->When he was re-signed over the summer, there was an expectation that Tyler Kennedy would get chances as a top 6 forward, and he would deliver on those chances like he showed he could last season. It just hasn’t happened for Kennedy. He missed 11 games early in the season due to injury. When he has played, however, he has not had nearly the same impact he did last season. Only 5 goals in 30 games isn’t nearly acceptable. Zero power play goals, that’s nearly unforgivable. He has had chances, playing with Jordan Staal for most games. Staal has had a great impact, scoring 15 goals on the season. Kennedy’s impact hasn’t been large enough, and due to injuries, his impact needs to increase.

—->Paul Martin’s contract is one of the highest-paying on the Penguins. With that paycheck, the responsibility is very high. It doesn’t necessarily mean that he has to be piling up points, nor does it mean that he has to be a big hitter and shot-blocker on the defensive end. But what it does mean is that he absolutely must be consistent defensively, in sound defensive position, and most importantly not making the big mistakes that lead to goals. Unfortunately, if you’ve watched him play this season, you know that Martin has struggled with that list. Inconsistency is a common theme for Martin. He has missed seven games due to injury/illness, but in the 34 games he has played, he has the worst plus/minus rating on the team. He also has looked lost defensively at times, and has lacked strength on the puck. His defensive partner, Zbynek Michalek, also hasn’t played up to his capabilities, but Martin’s been just horrendous at times, and when you make five million dollars per season, you need to be close to the best defenseman on the team, not close to the worst.

—->Marc-Andre Fleury is a fantastic goaltender, but he can’t play every single game. MAF’s backup is Brent Johnson, and in previous years, he’s been one of the best backup goalies in the NHL. At one point last season, he took over the #1 job from Fleury, and was holding onto it quite capably. This season, however, is a completely different story. Johnson has played in 9 games to this point, and has put up some horrifying statistics. 2-5-2 for a record, with a 3.47 goals against average, and a save percentage of .876, which are hideous numbers. But those don’t even fully capture Johnson’s struggles. He looks like he is flailing at pucks at times, and appears to be off his angles on far too many occasions. The Penguins need Johnson to get them points in the standings when he is between the pipes. Right now, he has only gotten them 6 out of 18 possible points. It’s not nearly good enough. And it might be time for the Pens to move on with a better backup, whether it be Brad Thiessen or an option from outside the organization.

The Ugly:

—->There is only one thing in this category, and it’s the only thing that fits right. It’s the injuries. The Penguins were plagued with bad health last season, with Crosby, Staal, and Malkin only playing 2 games together. And those two games featured Crosby’s first concussion issues. The Penguins thought they had moved on from all their injury woes as they moved ahead to the 2011-12 season. Not so fast, though.

The following is a list (in no particular order) of every Penguins player who has missed time this season due to injury/illness: Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Letang, Niskanen, Asham, Engelland, Martin, Orpik, Kennedy, Park, Michalek, Lovejoy, Despres, Jeffrey, Bortuzzo, Strait.

That is seventeen players. Yes, you read that right. Seventeen. Nearly an entire team worth of skaters. Including the highest-paid, most important skaters on the team. It’s very tough for a team to win games with all those players out. And it’s no surprise that the team is clawing and scratching to get a playoff spot, instead of comfortably sitting in a spot that allows for home-ice in playoff series.

So, with half the season in the books, the Pittsburgh Penguins are closer to last place in the Eastern Conference (10 points in front of the New York Islanders) than they are to first place in the Eastern Conference (12 points behind the New York Rangers). Things appear to be at a breaking point, especially if you read reports regarding the uncertainty surrounding Sidney Crosby at the moment. This could be a complete collapse for the Pens. Or they could rally and find a way to win the division. Or anywhere in between. I honestly think you could sell me on any scenario at this point.

Where do I think it goes from here? I’m usually a realist in my outlook on everything. But I’m an optimist when it comes to the Penguins. So, I’m seeing things finally falling into place. Players get healthy, scoring finally returns, MAF continues to play at his stellar level, and the Pens climb back into the East’s Top 4. If that happens, the rest of the East needs to look out in the playoffs.

In reality, though, the Pens will probably continue to struggle, but will find a way to sneak into the playoffs, then will exit quietly in the first round. All while the Rangers and Flyers make deep runs. And that’s where I take my leave, before I end up vomitting all over myself….

The Pittsburgh Penguins are a bad team.

I discussed, at length, the problem the team is facing with injuries right now. I had posed the question to Twitter (from my personal account) after the Rangers game and got mostly the same responses as always. I asked “what is the expiration date on the injury excuse?” That has been sitting in the fridge for a year now. It has to go bad at some point, right? Unless that excuse is made of the same material that Twinkies are made of, the excuse has gone stale and is no longer valid.

We’ve hit that point.

It is time to throw the injury excuse in the bin and come to terms with the fact that this team is grossly, grossly underperforming. Do I deny that injuries have played a role in this underperformance? No, I don’t. The dangers of hockey are vast and injuries happen. They happen to everyone. Yes, the Penguins now lead the NHL in man games lost (I believe it was 210 as of last night), but they have a great team in the minors and a wonderful pool of young talent to rely on to fill roster spots for 10-15 games.

I understand that there’s no player who can fill Sidney Crosby’s spot, except for maybe Evgeni Malkin, but the team has done relatively well without Sid. For the sake of comparison, last season’s team went without Sid or Geno (or many others) from February onward. The team from last spring played with undying heart and grit. They weren’t a skilled team, but they never, ever quit playing. They never looked defeated, no matter the obstacle. They continued to play through the injuries. They went into every game knowing that they had to keep goals against to two or fewer. They knew they would have to win puck battles and fight for every inch and every opportunity.

Where’s the grit and determination with this squad?

If you could play last season’s team vs the team we’ve seen for the last month, I’d lay good money on last season’s team winning a 7 game series.

After last night’s embarrassment to the New Jersey Devils, Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen had finally had enough and spoke up (all credit on quotes goes to Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review and Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette).

Orpik had the following to say:

“The accountability in this room has to be a lot better. We aren’t reacting to adversity very well right now. You can’t feel sorry for yourselves.”
“One goal’s not going to do it. You can pick apart every goal they get, but one goal isn’t going to do it. Don’t care if we got 50 or 60 shots on net. One goal isn’t going to do it.”

“I thought the energy was actually great last night. Once they scored a couple of goals on us, our attitude changed. You can’t hang your head and feel sorry for yourself like that. It won’t get you anywhere.”

“No accountability. We gave up another short-handed goal. We give up breakaways. Another dumb penalty. The accountability has got to be a lot better.”

“We give up a couple of goals, and everybody’s attitude [stinks] afterward. You can see on the ice, our energy starts out great, then they score a couple of goals and instead of getting [angry] and battling back, we just come out flatter and kind of feel sorry for ourselves, hang our heads.”

“We start taking stupid, lazy penalties and start getting off our game plan and doing whatever we want.”

Matt Niskanen:

“It felt just like the night before. It’s really deflating. We were in control of the game, then I hit the post on a power play. It was just a huge momentum swing.”

So, by the metrics exhibited by many Pens fans over the course of the last year, saying those things make Orpik and Niskanen bad teammates and bad fans. I know that I don’t always have the most popular opinion, but this is going to ludicrous levels. After Orpik’s comments came out I heard numerous people (we’re talking double digits)  saying that Orpik shouldn’t say such things; the team has too many injuries, what more can they do?; Orpik has no business talking about accountability because he’s made mistakes; Orpik hasn’t had a phenomenal year so he has no right to criticize anyone.

Let’s get something straight, people. The Penguins are a bad team right now. If you are saying different, you need to take the rose colored glasses off for a few minutes and look at the team again. Just because the team is bad doesn’t make you less of a fan to say so. I know a lot of people were fans of the God awful X-Generation teams, but that doesn’t mean you were a “bad fan.” Hell, most people use attendance to games involving Ouellet, Koltsov, Fata, etc as a sign of true fandom.

Why must it be a continual pissing match with everyone over who the better fan is?

I’m going to channel my inner Orpik now and do a little calling out of things that just need to stop.

1. Jokes/Insults about people leaving a game early to “beat traffic.”

The jokes are tired and unoriginal. People paid for their tickets (presumably). They can do with them as they wish. If they want to walk through the gate and turn around and leave they are entitled to do exactly that. Grousing about the people leaving early has become a diversionary tactic to ensure we don’t talk about the on-ice product. It has also become another feather in the cap of the “true fans.”

2. The arena is too quiet.

While I agree in principle, I would also like to remind everyone how there’s no happy medium with the people who bitch and moan about this. They complain that Montreal is too loud. They complain that people in Detroit never sit down. They make fun of Washington for being prompted to cheer. There’s no winning with these people about this topic. CEC could crumble to the foundation from fans going nuts and these people would complain that it was too much celebration.

3. “Everything is wonderful”

No, it isn’t. While not everything is doom and gloom, refusing to see that the team is not playing well is as bad as saying they’ll never win another game. Is there some sort of 12 step program for some people? They need to get around to admitting there’s a problem before they can attempt to fix it. Ignoring glaring weaknesses indicates one of a few things. It shows the person as blindly ignorant or so wrapped up in the dogma and bullshit of true “fandom” that the truth is a malleable item that can be twisted to fit their needs.

It is possible to criticize the team and still be a fan. It is possible to WANT the team to win, but know they don’t have the chops TO win. Last year’s playoffs were the start of the schism. I wanted to see the Pens pull out a win in game 7, but I had the gall to say *gasp* on the internet that I didn’t think the Pens had what it took to win game 7. I was called a fairweather fan, a bad fan, that I had no faith in the team. I was told to turn in my fan card and that I shouldn’t be allowed to wear a Penguins jersey ever again.

So, does that mean every player on the Pens fits in that category, too, because they lost a 1-0 game 7 at home and didn’t fit into the expectation and mold created in your superfan mind?

Get real.

The Penguins are bad right now. There’s been a complete lack of leadership until last night, when Orpik finally had enough. Josh Yohe also reported that the team would be practicing this morning. Clearly coach Bylsma has had enough, too. The team ALWAYS had the day after back-to-back games off. Not only is the team practicing on a Sunday (a rarity), but they are practicing on a Sunday after back-to-back games.

If I were Bylsma I would simply say “Well, in a combined 120 minutes of hockey you’ve scored 2 goals, allowed 6, and played a total of about 25 minutes competitive hockey. Get skating. You should have plenty of energy and legs to skate for a few hours.”

Hopefully Orpik’s comments serve as a wake-up call. I don’t mind the team losing (not that I enjoy it) if they at least were in the game and competitive. What I do mind is this bullshit we’ve seen for the last 4-6 weeks.

Since Black Friday, the Pens are 9-9. The Pens have managed wins again Ottawa, Montreal, Washington, Carolina (twice), New York Islanders, Buffalo, Chicago, and Winnipeg. They have lost to New York Rangers (twice), Boston, Philadelphia (twice), Detroit, Ottawa, and New Jersey (twice).

Of those victories, only 1 came against a team that was in the playoffs when being played against (Chicago).

Explain to me how a team can be amazinggreatwonderfulnothingiswrong when you cannot win against teams currently in playoff position? How is a team so perfect if they’ve managed to go from 1st place in the entire league to 18th overall in about a month’s time? How did they go from 1st in their division to 4th if they are so magnificent?

Right now the Pens are barely in the playoffs. They are the 8th seed with 46 points. Winnipeg has 45 and Washington has 44. This is a team dangerously close to falling out of playoffs and digging themselves into such a hole that they cannot climb back out.

Good teams beat bad teams. Bad teams get beat by good teams.

The Penguins are a bad team. At least for now. And they’re running out of time to fix it.

I’m not saying it to be a troll or being ironically detached from things. I’m saying it because I legitimately don’t know what is wrong with this team, nor do I know if there is any way to “fix” what ails them. There are a number of avenues to explore, and I don’t know if any are correct, let alone defining one as singularly accurate. This is my attempt to sort out my thoughts and get some things out there in the hopes that it generates some discussion. By all means, feel free to disagree with every single thing I say and give me an alternate argument. I am no Andy Sutton, I’m just going off what I can see and what I know from my own life experiences.

Injuries.

Yes, we’ve been down this road before. There is no “fix” for injuries. They are a part of sports, especially hockey. Unfortunately guys get hurt. It does appear that the Penguins have been hit extra hard by the injury bug over the last few seasons. Collectively, I feel, this is due to a few major factors, including, but not limited to: coach Bylsma’s grinding system, ineptitude of league offices/on-ice officials, and the sense of wild west justice in the NHL.

I do feel Bylsma’s system is more demanding, physically, on the players which puts them in more contact and breaks down the body a little quicker/harder. It isn’t a direct one-to-one comparison, though. Bylsma’s system results in more short-term injuries or needing a game or two off to rest. The Penguins have been dealing with major, profound injuries to important players (and some role players, too).

Sidney Crosby was hit twice in the head and missed nearly a full calendar year. Was under every microscope in the world and, as the face the of the NHL, (fairly or unfairly) needed to be protected a little bit. Returns to game action to all the fanfare deserving of someone of that caliber…and then gets clocked in the head by David Krecji’s elbow and Krecji doesn’t even get penalized. Sid goes back on the IR.

Kris Letang gets absolutely leveled by Max Pacioretty. There was no penalty on the play. Even by the most liberal interpretation, it was a violation of Rule 48. Letang returned to game action and scored the OT winner, but has since been on the shelf with concussion symptoms. Pacioretty was eventually suspended 3 games and then proceeded to go on TV and bitch and moan about “the way the wind is blowing” in the NHL. Apparently he doesn’t agree with the wind blowing in the direction of not hitting a guy who isn’t looking in the side of the head. Go figure. I wonder if he has an opinion on not letting up on a hit in/around the stanchions?

Robert Bortuzzo, much like Letang, was hit in the head by a renowned sack of monkey shit, Zac Rinaldo, and there was neither a penalty on the play NOR supplemental discipline from the all mighty office of Brendan Shanahan. Bortuzzo, thankfully, has finally recovered and been returned to Wilkes Barre-Scranton as of January 7, 2012.

I want you to remember, there were no penalties called on those hits. These are not the type of injuries that are the result of Dan Bylsma’s system. These injuries are the direct result of neither players nor officials policing the game. If ever you need an example of just how poorly managed the game can be, look at the Penguins-Islanders brawl from Feb. 11, 2011.

I completely understand that there will always be a human element to the game, especially when it comes to officiating. It’s an unenviable job. Much like the weatherman, you never really hear about what a great job a referee does. The negative is what one hears about. However, it has become so bad on a night-in-night-out basis with the on-ice officials that it truly has made me miss the days of Bill McCreary’s mustache. At least you knew what you would get with McCreary (let them play until late, then make yourself the center of attention by calling some bullshit). Is it so hard to err on the side of caution and call penalties on plays like those? If you keep penalizing the offending teams they will eventually stop doing it (or, at worst, those players will no longer get ice time).

Matt Cooke was vilified, justifiably, for playing recklessly and putting his team at a disadvantage. He has since changed his playing style and has been hit in the head with cheapshots multiple times this season, all have gone unpunished.

The wild west system of justice the NHL has doesn’t work. If you hit a guy cheaply you had to answer the bell. Now? Well, it’s hard to say. You need to have guys on the roster who can play. You can’t have a Steve MacIntyre or Eric Godard on the ice regularly because they are a hockey abortion on skates. The role of the enforcer is gone. When Brian Burke has finally given up and demoted Colton Orr (not without wailing lamentations about truculence and the direction of the NHL) you know times have changed.

Now you have players of all levels running around and taking liberties with others because there is no accountability. There’s no way to tell what will or won’t be penalized. There’s even less idea about what hits will and will not be reviewed and disciplined further. If I were a player I’d take every opportunity I got to weaken an opponent by taking out a star. Even if you do get penalized, the notion of a “make up call” and ebb-and-flow officiating effectively renders penalties non-deterrents. Brendan Shanahan was given the keys to the castle and given a mandate to clean up the league and put his foot down. He may, in a sense, actually be worse than Colin Campbell. At least we all knew Colin was completely incompetent and had his wheel of justice. We have no idea what to make of Shanhan. Make a stink about a hit on TSN and he might look at it. Play in a non-traditional market or employ a demon like Cooke and it’s apparently free rein on cheapshots against you.

If you can’t protect your own players/teammates with a tough guy you need to be able to count on the league holding psychos accountable. The league is not doing their job.

As it stands now, I fully support Donald Fehr and support a work stoppage if it means the NHL gets serious about player safety and subsequent discipline for violations. These are not the injuries that occur because of Dan Bylsma’s system. These are the injuries that occur because of the systemic failure of the league to protect its most valuable assets: the players.

With the injuries have come numerous other problems. The injuries can be overcome by replacing players. Sure, there’s no true way to replace a Crosby or a Letang, but when you have Malkin and young studs like Simon Despres (who can fill in and get some invaluable NHL experience) you can maintain. What you cannot do, and I fear this is what is happening to the Pens, is allow the seeds of doubt and inevitability to germinate in the brain. From what some of the players have been saying over the past few weeks, I am deeply concerned this is a team that has given up on themselves. Starting with the Flyers (three games ago) the Pens have looked like a team completely incapable of competing, let alone winning. They looked like a competent team for the first 10 minutes against the Rangers and then fell apart.

After Deryk Engelland was suspended for his hit on Chicago’s Marcus Kruger (a dirty hit, but no less of a hit than what Niklas Kronwall does nightly) Brooks Orpik was asked about his opinion on the NHL’s discipline. His response: “I think we have strong opinions, but they aren’t going to change the suspension.” While Orpik may not have an objective opinion of things, he also carries weight with the team and often speaks the truth when none other will.

Likewise, Matt Niskanen had the most telling quote after the Pens 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. When asked about the injuries that keep happening (in this case, Pascal Dupuis and Arron Asham), Niskanen replied “I can honestly say that I’m not surprised. That’s the way it’s been going. We’ve just had some really, really bad luck.”

If ever there were two quotes you didn’t want to hear, those would them. Those are the thoughts of a team that is up against the wall and admitting defeat. They are morphing into a “can’t win, don’t try” mentality.

Last season’s team was ravaged by injuries, even worse than this current team, and the 2011 Penguins would annihilate the 2012 Penguins if they played one another. Last season the team lacked skill, but they stayed in games with pure determination and will. This squad? They look disinterested and demoralized. They look like a team that knows they’re outmatched. Last year’s squad knew they were outmatched but refused to let up. This squad routinely takes a period (or more) off each game.

But how do you fix it? Do you change coaches? No. This isn’t entirely a coaching problem. Bylsma has them playing and then something happens and they quit. Do you make a blockbuster trade? Maybe, but there’s no promise that works and you may end up doing more harm than good. Do you bench players or make a stink in the press? Possibly, but then you come across as petulant and the agenda-driven NHL will ensure you never are the benefit of the doubt regarding penalties and player safety.

I’m no Andy Sutton, but I don’t see a fix for this, and certainly not an easy fix. This team has not been able to compete with top-tier teams this season and there’s no reason for it. Yes, they were decimated on defense by injuries, but that doesn’t excuse only being able to generate 4 goals combined in the last three games.

Malkin and Neal have been playing their collective balls off. Kunitz, too. These are top line players. Having them play 1st line minutes is not having them play above their level. Pascal Dupuis has been the surprise of the season and has been filling in admirably. Jordan Staal, too, has been having a phenomenal offensive year. Kennedy has missed time with injury, but is generating chances. Steve Sullivan has been relegated to 3rd line duty, but is still a heads-up type player. Joe Vitale has never, ever quit on a shift. Neither has Adams or Cooke.

This is not a popgun offense, but it sure looks like one.

Can you really point the finger entirely at Letang missing time? I agree that he may be the most valuable player on the team (who does not get the proper recognition he deserves), but can we really make that case? The Pens generate offense from the defense and with the defense in complete shambles…perhaps.

These are dark times. No idea how this team can ring up 8 against Buffalo, 3 against the Blackhawks, 4 against the Jets, and 4 against the Hurricanes…and then 2 against the Flyers, 1 against the Devils and 1 against the Rangers.

There is no fix to a problem that cannot be identified. And there certainly isn’t a fix to a mental problem.

First of all, it has been a pleasure writing here for everyone. Hopefully everyone has enjoyed what I’ve been able to write as much as I enjoyed writing things. I wish I could have continued the pace I started out with, but life happened and, sadly, this had to take a backseat. That isn’t fair to all of you and I want to make sure 2012 sees to it that I do a bit more regular writing, even if it is some shorter, less in-depth type of work.

Second, 2011 has truly been a wild ride of a year. It had plenty of lows, but also had an incredible amount of highs. Personally, it was a solid year for me. I was finally able to get hired doing the job I love as well as move ahead with many aspects of my life that were on hold.

It was a strange year, too. I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to get my inner self straight. Finally, after many years, I’ve been able to let go of some of the baggage and unpleasantness I’ve been carrying with me for years. I haven’t really been able to enjoy the freedom that comes with releasing myself from those shackles, but I know I’ll come to appreciate it soon. Speaking more specifically, I finally came to terms with a few people (ex girlfriends who did me wrong and I never really got closure) and have been able to move beyond through a variety of means/events. I finally felt vindicated. I finally was able to get a sense of justice in the world and I have, at long last, been able to set those ghosts free.

I don’t you to think that I’m just ignoring those parts of my life. These people were tremendously important to me then and now, but not for the same reasons. People come into and fall out of our lives all the time. These women were important then and I want to thank them for teaching me some things about life. I’ll never forget them. But now it’s time to give my sign off to them and wish them “good night, and good luck.”

2011 saw me make some new friends and some new enemies. Unfortunately, I’m a person with a big, strong personality and sometimes it can get the best of me. Earlier in the year (about the time that I started this blog) I got into a beef with the guys over at the Pensblog and we all said some things we didn’t entirely mean. I don’t fully agree with some of the things they say or do, but the internet is a pretty big place and we can both co-exist peacefully. With the troubles the Penguins have been facing, the last thing the team and the fanbase needs is a bunch of in-fighting among the blogs. Really, it’s the internet. I know we like to pretend it’s serious business, but it’s more important for us to come together and support our team. We can disagree on players and how things should be done, but it ultimately boils down to supporting the skating penguin on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back or the guys behind the benches and desks of the team. The Pens are our team, ride or die. I fully suspect Derek (of tPB) and I will continue to give one another the business, but that is ultimately what the internet is for.

As I mentioned numerous times over the last few months, I moved to a new state and started a new job. It’s been a whirlwind, honest and true, but I couldn’t be happier having done so. Moving out of PA really gave me a chance to hit the reset button on life and start over. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t lonely from time to time, but that’s bound to happen in a new town/state. I love teaching and I want to get better and better each year. I think I did a decent job of things this semester, but I have a lot of improvements I can make.

In general, 2011 was a strange, but good, year, and I look forward to what 2012 brings. I know Griggsy is looking forward to a fresh start and getting the blog back on track. God love him.

Most importantly, though – thanks to all of you who read the blog and commented and followed on Twitter.

Happy 2012, folks. See you on the other side.

Ol’ Uncle Walt wanted to check in with everyone and wish a Merry Christmas or happy-whatever-you-celebrate (twice as happy if you just celebrate drinking a lot of whiskey). Pittsburgh…I was gone just long enough to feel nostalgic and I’ve been back just long enough to want to get back to NC.

Go figure.

Enjoy your holiday, be safe, and let’s see what 2012 holds in store for all of us.

Go Pens, Go Steelers, Go winning season for the Pirates.

-Walt

Since the last update, and that was late October, business has picked up around these parts. The good news: I have really settled into my job and there’s much less insanity surrounding the day-to-day life. I’m still perpetually behind the 8-ball, but that happens. Contrary to popular belief, teaching does not afford a large amount of free time. The last few weeks have been a non-stop barrage of research paper drafts and workshops and staying at school until 7 p.m. I wish I were joking, but it is common for me to be at school, either grading papers or tutoring, until 7 at night.

I don’t want that to be taken as bitching and moaning, though. I love my job. I absolutely love what I do. I am very, very happy with my life right now. All the things I’ve wanted for years — the things I’ve shown patience and sacrificed for — are all coming about in fair turn. I am looking forward, though, to going back to Pittsburgh for Christmas. I did not make it home for Thanksgiving, as our break from school was shortened (we had school on Wednesday, which was poo), but I plan on being in Pittsburgh for a prolonged time at Christmas (read: 2-3 weeks, depending on travel days). This semester is coming to a close very fast. This week coming up is the last traditional week for my juniors (who are taking senior-level courses) because they all have college finals the following week. I’m proud of the work I’ve been able to do, especially with a shortened time frame. These kids lost out on over 6 weeks of instructional time and (most) have risen to the challenge.

Griggsy, too, has undergone some changes. He’s also found himself amongst the employed. Sadly, his employment is largely keeping him dead to the rest of the world. Hopefully he, too, will get settled in and can find a few minutes to share with us his stories.

So, that Sidney Crosby guy is pretty good, right?

I will be the first to admit, and many saw, that I was wearing thin on patience with Sid prior to his return. I was conflicted because I’d been willing to give him the time and space needed to recover and didn’t want him rushed back, but at the same time he really needed to get into the game. He either was going to play again or he wasn’t, and he needed to make the choice. Thankfully he chose to get back in the game. I cannot even imagine what it was like for Sid, though. Someone with that level of drive and competition having to sit on the sideline all that time…and then get close to return but always consider if another hit like Steckel’s happens it could be the end of the career. I didn’t envy his position, but at the same time, he needed to get back for numerous reasons.

He needed to get back simply for the moral victory to show that concussions can be recovered from if handled properly (I’m looking at you, Boston). He had to come back for the people of Pittsburgh who waited for his return patiently. He needed to get back for his teammates. He needed to get back to lift the NHL. Like it or not, he is the face of the NHL. It’s nearly impossible to market Ovechkin lately, and there really isn’t a player you associate with the post lock-out NHL more than Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin.

But Sid came back. And he made the whole hockey world sit up straight. Much like Tupac, all eyes were on Sid. And he didn’t disappoint. After not playing in a competitive hockey game for 320 games Sidney Crosby returned, on a relatively calm November night, and scored two goals and registered two assists against the New York Islanders. And the world was back in balance.

Of course, there are some who say he came back too early or that he needed to get a stint in Wilkes-Barre to get up to game speed, but I think everything happened as it needed to for Sid. He came back and scored on his first shot. It couldn’t have happened any other way. Of course, the naysayers and roustabouts all had a field day with the second game vs St. Louis, but the team is more than Sidney Crosby and it was a failure as/of a team that ultimately lost that game. And then things seemed like they should be against the up-and-down Ottawa Senators. Good teams like the Pens should completely manhandle bad teams like the Islanders and the Senators. They should find themselves in solid competition against teams like the Blues.

It all comes down to playing a full game. There needs to be preparation for each game. There need to be smart plays. There needs to be passion, too. Sometimes the Pens go a little light in those areas because they are a gifted team with a LOT of top-tier talent. Sometimes they get the wake-up call, sometimes they don’t. Thankfully it’s a long season and when playoffs roll around it isn’t a one-and-done system.

Tonight the Pens face off against Montreal. Presumably Brent Johnson will be in the cage. The magic is gone from Johnson’s game. Let us hope that he can recapture it and get back to the level we know he can play at, otherwise this could be an incredibly long season for the Flower. All things in time.

Walt here. Just wanted to drop a quick update on Griggsy. After a bit of slamming my head into a wall I finally got things figured out and got Griggsy on the roll. He will be doing his own posts from here on out. If you want to keep in touch with him outside of the blog or give him direct feedback on his posts, you can do so on Twitter -@Griggsy96 or now by clap-free email, GriggsyAvoidsTheClap@gmail.com

So, even though he’s been posting here for a while, I’m finally happy to have Griggsy on board as an admin and with some free rein to post as he pleases.

Welcome aboard, sir. It truly is a pleasure to have you.

As always, you can follow the blog on Twitter at @AvoidingTheClap and by email at AvoidingTheClap@gmail.com. You can also follow me personal account at @walterflanagan (You’ll have to request to be followed by me – I keep that account locked because, well, it’s my personal account).

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On today’s slate, I’ll tell you how the Eastern Conference should unfold. Again, I’ll give you a quick overview of the team, a key player to the team’s success (or failure), and give best- and worst-case scenarios for the teams’ seasons. Afterwards, I’ll give you my predictions for the Eastern playoffs, tell you who will be facing the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals, and tell you who’s taking home the chalice.

Without further ado….

Eastern Conference

–>Ottawa Senators (East #15, Northeast #5): You thought Ottawa bottomed out last season, right? Worst goal differential in the East. Injuries galore. No one having more than 21 goals on the season. A fire sale at the deadline. A coach getting fired. The sad thing? It’s just going to get worse this season. Bryan Murray is still running the show, and he has brought in another head coach for him to scapegoat. Paul MacLean is the new face (read: poor bastard) that gets to steer the ship. It won’t end well for him.

The goaltending is covered by two bald men and a prospect. Craig Anderson and Alex Auld will start the season as the netminders at the NHL level. However, they will just be placeholders for the time being. Eventually, young prospect Robin Lehner will take over, and it’s just a matter of time. Anderson fell apart in Colorado, but was surprisingly decent in Ottawa to end the season. Auld is nothing more than a serviceable backup on a good team. On this team? Yikes.

The defense is surprisingly solid, although the end is near for Sergei Gonchar. Chris Phillips has just a little bit left in his tank, and Filip Kuba is close to the same. So, Erik Karlsson is the one left to pick up the pieces. He has the talent, and his youth helps him plenty, but he may be in over his head. Offensively, young guys will continue to get a chance to make an impact, supplemented by Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, and this man….

Key Player: Daniel Alfredsson, RW — Alfredsson struggled mightily in 54 games before hurting his back last season. He is still the most talented forward on the team, and as he goes, so goes the team. He’s going to need to play better than his 38 years of age will allow, though, if the Senators want to remain in playoff contention.

Best-Case Scenario: Alfredsson, Spezza, and Michalek all play above their heads, while a couple of the youngsters make an impact. The defense plays solid, with Gonchar regaining some form and Karlsson becoming a Norris Trophy contender. Anderson recovers his form from two seasons ago in Colorado. The Senators sneak into the last playoff spot before taking the Caps to seven games.

Worst-Case Scenario: Every player plays as they’re expected to. And that’s not a good thing. “With the first pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators select….”

–>Florida Panthers (East #14, Southeast #5): There are some teams where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Think Nashville every year or Phoenix prior to this season. Then there are teams like the 2011-12 Florida Panthers. These are mismatched parts all stuffed into a bag together. In other words, I’m sorry, Kevin Dineen.

The Panthers no longer have Tomas Vokoun as their goalie (more on him further up the pecking order). Instead they are in the same boat as Phoenix, hoping to find lightning in a bottle. One of the guys they brought in is Jose Theodore, who improbably is a former Hart Trophy winner. Mind you, that’s 10 years ago at this point, but still. Scott Clemmensen is the other option in the short-term, but talented Jacob Markstrom, only 21 years old, looms over the situation. The defense is led by Brian Campbell, which means it’s led by a defenseman who’s not a defenseman. Aside from Ed Jovanovski, the rest of the D is young,which could lead to rough times for whomever is in net all season long.

The offense is stocked with homegrown talent and overpaid castoffs. The best of the bunch are David Booth, who played a full season last year but only scored 40 points, along with Stephen Weiss, who led the team in scoring with only 49 points last season. No wonder the team finished at the bottom of the Eastern standings last year.

Key Player: Kris Versteeg, RW — Probably the best of the castoffs, Versteeg won a title in Chicago, got sent to Toronto to dump salary, then was sent to Philly at the deadline last season, where he did very little down the stretch. That got him a one-way ticket out-of-town to Florida, once again as a salary dump. He should have a chip on his shoulder at this point, therefore motivating him to play well all season. However, he may not have the drive to do so, and he just may not care now that he’s in Hockey Hell.

Best-Case Scenario: Dineen is a master motivator, getting the team to play with fire. Theodore thrives with this last chance opportunity. Campbell plays out of his mind all year. Versteeg, Weiss, and Booth form the most underrated top line in hockey. And with all this, the Panthers fall 2 points shy of a playoff spot.

Worst-Case Scenario: Dineen is an average coach. Theodore plays uninspired. Versteeg plays with a malaise. Campbell plays reckless hockey, finishing with the worst plus-minus in the league. Weiss and Booth still lead the team in scoring with under 50 points. The Panthers are officially eliminated from the playoffs before March.

–>Winnipeg Jets (East #13, Southeast #4): After another great start to the season, the Atlanta Thrashers fell apart in grand fashion, finishing in 12th place in the conference. Couple that with some of the worst attendance in the league, and no wonder new owners moved the team to Canada. This will be the last year of the franchise in the Eastern Conference, and they will leave the conference as also-rans once again.

Ondrej Pavelic is young and very talented, but still shows his inexperience as an NHL goaltender. He will be prone to more struggles this season, and Chris Mason is no more than a decent backup, incapable of fixing the problems that Pavelic’s inconsistency will create. The defense is extremely talented as well, but they seemed to struggle as a unit as the season went on. Their best defenseman was at his best in his career when he was a power forward. More on him in a moment. Tobias Enstrom, Johnny Oduya, and Zach Bogosian all have fairly good skill sets, but they need to get it done all season long.

The Jets sorely lack top-end offensive talent, however. Only one forward scored more than 50 points, and they have very little chance to improve on that this season. I could list the names they have returning, and those that are new, but I don’t want to induce vomiting. Suffice to say, they will be struggling to light the lamp, especially up front.

Key Player: Dustin Byfuglien, D — An All-Star last season, Byfuglien fell off towards the end of the season, and continued that drop with an arrest and getting horribly out of shape in the offseason. That is not how you want a team leader to act, that’s for sure. He needs to get back in shape and be a big help both offensively and defensively. The forwards do not have enough skill to carry the scoring, so Byfuglien must make an impact there, especially on the power play.

Best-Case Scenario: The best crowd atmosphere carries the Jets to a tremendous home record. It also doesn’t hurt that Winnipeg is effectively in the middle of nowhere. Regardless, the team performs well at home, and they tread water on the road. Pavelic has a breakout season, Byfuglien and Enstrom once again play at All-Star levels, and the forwards do just enough to win. They manage to pass the Flyers and Rangers at the end of the season, and take 7th place. Losing to the Penguins in 7 games saddens the fans, but they still hold a parade for the team in early May. What else are you going to do in Manitoba in early May?

Worst-Case Scenario: The crowd atmosphere can’t carry the team on the ice. Pavelic struggles. Byfuglien never gets in shape, outraging coach Claude Noel. Enstrom can’t do it all on his own. Captain Andrew Ladd (yeah, I had to look it up) leads the team in scoring with 44 points. The Jets are done early, but the fans still hold a parade for the team in early April. What else are you going to do in Manitoba in early April?

–>Montreal Canadiens (East #12, Northeast #4): I bet you didn’t expect this. As I type, riots are being planned in Montreal. Well, that was going to happen anyway. But instead of it being the usual purposeless rioting, they’ll burn me in effigy. They found a way to make the playoffs last year, and took the eventual Cup winners to the limit, before coming up just….(wait for it)…short in Game 7. They followed that up by signing Erik Cole. That’s it? That’s all? Erik Cole? THAT Erik Cole? And you wonder why I am picking them this low.

The forwards will also include the return of the midget squad. Cammalleri, Gomez, and Gionta are all still there, just a year older. Andrei Kostitsyn and Tomas Plekanec also return, so the top two lines will be decent. However, despite that list, the team scored the 4th fewest goals in the East last season. Will Cole help? Sure, he’ll add a little. But I don’t think he can do enough to offset the lack of scoring that is likely to hurt their cause this season.

The defense has Josh Gorges and Andrei Markov returning from injury, as well as Hal Gill and P.K. Subban back again. Subban and Markov will add offensive punch, while Gorges and Gill will add a stay-at-home presence to the blue line once again. They make for a decent top 4, but opposing forwards won’t exactly be shaking in their skates lined up against them. As for the goaltending….

Key Player: Carey Price, G — Price played in an absurd 72 games last season, as well as seven grueling playoff games. If you expect that to have zero effect on him this season, then either you’re dreaming, or you’re a Canadiens fan. Maybe both. He’s due to have some type of physical breakdown after this, and Peter Budaj just isn’t going to be able to fill in at a level necessary to keep the team in games.

Best-Case Scenario: Price defies the odds, playing another 70+ game schedule, and he plays at an All-Star level once more. Meanwhile, Cole sparks the offense to boost scoring, while Markov and Gorges returning leads to improved defense play. With all these things coming together, the Habs find a way to return to the top of the Northeast Division, finishing in third place in the conference. They win their first round series before bowing out to Philadelphia in the second round.

Worst-Case Scenario: Price misses major amounts of time, leaving Budaj to fish pucks out of the net for half the season. Cole adds very little to the scoring, while Gomez and company fall (you guessed it) short of expectations. The additions of Markov and Gorges are offset by Gill completely becoming a pylon. Subban’s dirty play lands him in Brendan Shanahan’s dog house. The Habs finish well out of the playoff picture, leading to another overhaul of the roster.

–>New Jersey Devils (East #11, Atlantic #5): The Devils got off to one of the worst starts possible last season under John MacLean. The first-time NHL coach was quickly fired halfway through the season, and the team thrived under interim coach Jacques Lemaire. The thriving, of course, was as a result of the team returning to a trapping style of play. Lemaire went back into retirement at the end of the season, and Peter DeBoer was named as his replacement. He has a ton of talented pieces at his disposal. However, the system will change, and the team may again struggle because of it. Will Lou Lamoriello have patience, or will he can DeBoer at the first sign of problems?

Offensively, the Devils have great talent. Ilya Kovalchuk has been a top goal scorer in the league for years. Zach Parise returns from injury, and could put himself in the Art Ross Trophy race. They are surrounded by capable players like Patrick Elias, Dainius Zubrus, Travis Zajac, and the returning Petr Sykora. Nick Palmieri acquitted himself well in a half of a season, and may make a bigger impact, given the opportunity.

The defense has some solid contributors as well. Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov are strong, while Andy Greene put up surprisingly good numbers last season. Rookie Adam Larsson will make his NHL debut this year, and if the Top 5 draft pick plays well from the start, another dimension will be added to the blue line. There’s only one man left to discuss….

Key Player: Martin Brodeur, G — His numbers started to slip, and injury concerns exist now. The elephant in the room also needs to be addressed. Is Brodeur the best goalie ever, or is he just the best system goalie ever? He played fantastically in the trap system for so many seasons, but struggled last year, especially early when the trap was gone. DeBoer may not be able to count on his Hall of Fame netminder to bail things out on the back-end.

Best-Case Scenario: Kovalchuk and Parise fly under DeBoer’s guidance. Elias and Sykora, fresh from being hooked up to the Juvenation Machine (copyright Bill Simmons), play above their heads. Volchenkov and company play great defense, and Brodeur shows that he’s not dead yet. The Devils get into the playoffs as the 5 seed, and knock off Tampa in the first round before falling to Washington in the second round.

Worst-Case Scenario: Kovalchuk’s struggles continue. Elias and Sykora start strong, but fade big-time. Parise is focused on by opposing defenses, shutting him down effectively. Volchenkov and Tallinder try to pick up the slack, but they can’t shut the stars down well enough. Most importantly, though, the end comes for Martin Brodeur. It was inevitable, but it submarines the season for DeBoer. They finish 13th in the conference.

–>Toronto Maple Leafs (East #10, Northeast #3): Brian Burke continues to put his imprint on the Maple Leafs roster. But at some point, his roster needs to start winning games. And those wins need to result in a return to the playoffs. If you look at the roster, this just feels like a team that’s one player short.

Phil Kessel moves the needle offensively for this team, and appears to be the only one of a star caliber. Sure, the team has tons of third-liners, grinders, and tough guys, but it’s tough to find a scoring partner that Kessel can rely upon. On defense, Dion Phaneuf is the big-name player, but he is surrounded by very mediocre talent. That makes him look even worse as well. Phaneuf is a good player on a good defense. But as the leader of an average unit, his play will prove to be underwhelming, too.

Goaltending is still a mess for coach Ron Wilson. Jean-Sebastien Giguere departed, leaving two inexperienced players to pick up the slack. Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer will be the tandem, with Reimer being the presumed #1. Both have sizable upside, but neither is the type of goaltender that will win playoff series.

Key Player: Brian Burke, GM — I know, once again not a player, but it’s the right choice. Burke needs to make a move at some point to bring in another player on par with Kessel, maybe even better. Until he does that, this team will not make the leap back into the playoffs.

Best-Case Scenario: One of the goaltenders establishes himself, making big saves at all the big times. Kessel puts up 50 goals, and one of the many forwards around him makes the leap, probably Matthew Lombardi or Mikhail Grabovski. Phaneuf puts the defense on his back, to the surprise of many. And with other teams in the East struggling, the Leafs grab the 8th and final playoff spot. They are swept out in the first round, but who cares? Back in the playoffs, baby.

Worst-Case Scenario: Neither goaltender performs well enough, leaving Wilson to tear his hair out. Kessel underachieves, while none of the forwards around him steps up. Phaneuf and the rest of the defense do nothing of note. The playoffs fade away from Toronto once again, and Burke and Wilson are both sent packing, another rebuilding project on the way.

–>New York Islanders (East #9, Atlantic #4): Very quietly, the Islanders have been acquiring a surprisingly deep group of talent. The key thing now? Jack Capuano and especially Garth Snow need to stay the hell out of the way. A terrible start to the season doomed the Islanders, and a willingness to have goons throughout the lineup set them back to some extent. If they go with the right players in their lineup this season, there is potential for something special to occur.

Goaltending is an interesting subject for the Isles. They have 3 capable goalies, but all three have flaws. DiPietro is oft-injured, Nabokov’s heart can be questioned, and Al Montoya has yet to get it done long enough to make the team feel confident. When they decide the direction they want to go, it could all be sabotaged by each goalie’s flaws.

The forward positions are clearly the team’s strength. John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson, Michael Grabner, and P.A. Parenteau all return, while Brian Rolston comes over from New Jersey. More depth could come in the form of first-round pick Nino Niederreiter. This could be a very dynamic and explosive scoring attack.

The questions exist mostly on defense. The depth is virtuallynon-existent. They are also relying on someone they don’t know theycan rely on….

Key Player: Mark Streit, D — The freshly named team captain is coming off a completely lost season due to injury. Will he be able to fully recover and get back to his previous level of play? Will he be able to be a leader on and off the ice, when he hasn’t had the ‘C’ on his sweater previously? Can he help his unit turn into a solid set of defensemen, or will they fall apart? Big questions for Streit to answer.

Best-Case Scenario: The offense, as expected, carries the team, scoring the most goals in the league. Tavares lives up to his new contract, while Okposo rebounds from an injury plagued 2010-11. The rest of the team does just enough around them. DiPietro is injured again, but it’s a blessing in disguise, as Montoya and Nabokov share the load. The goonery that permeated through the team is forgotten completely, and the defense jells, mostly due to having less penalties to kill. The Isles crash the playoff party, getting in as the #7 seed. They take #2 seed (and appropriate playoff opponent) Pittsburgh to 7 games before falling to Crosby and company. Regardless, the NHL world knows the Isles are back.

Worst-Case Scenario: The offense does perform better, but not well enough. Some guys they expected more from, including Tavares and Parenteau, do very little. Meanwhile, Nabokov gets traded away, then DiPietro gets injured soon after. The job is Al Montoya’s, and he struggles with a weak defense in front of him. The Isles are in lots of wild games, and most of them end with the Isles’ comeback falling short. The NHL world doesn’t find out about the Isles yet. Well, not because of good play, at least. (Yes, I’m looking at you, Trevor Gillies.)

–>Philadelphia Flyers (East #8, Atlantic #3): The Flyers once again fell short of winning a Stanley Cup, being swept out by the Bruins in round two. GM Paul Holmgren opted to shake up the roster, trading away Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and allowing Ville Leino to walk away (more on him later), while bringing in Ilya Bryzgalov, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek, Maxime Talbot, and Jaromir Jagr.

*Crickets*

….I said Jaromir Jagr!

(Boooooooooooo!)

There, that’s better. Anyways, the roster has changed quite a bit, but the Flyers are still against the cap, still are old on defense, and still have a goalie who is unproven in the playoffs. This will go well.

Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere are the mainstays after all the upheaval in Philly, but even they aren’t immune to change. They are now being relied upon to change from being great wingers to become the top two centers on the team, taking Carter and Richards’ spots. This is not an easy adjustment to make, either. Jagr will be relying on one of them to make his job easier. Not a guarantee to happen. There is more even spread of talent for the Philly forwards. But this may result in a drop in goals scored.

If that happens, the defense will be more important than ever. That could be a problem. Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen are the top defensemen, and they are getting older (read: very old), while Braydon Coburn, Matt Carle, and Andrej Meszaros will be needed more in support, which may cause struggles for them. Meanwhile, the goaltending position, while well-paid, is still a question mark….

Key Player: Ilya Bryzgalov, G — Bryzgalov played very well in Phoenix. I want to get that out of the way, because what I say now may make it sound like I didn’t think so. The truth is, playing well in Phoenix guarantees nothing about his success in Philadelphia. Phoenix had a strict defensive system, which helped him a lot. Also, the pressure of hockey in Phoenix is much different from the pressure of hockey in Philadelphia. Let in a soft goal? In Phoenix, no big deal. In Philly, you may be beaten up. Welcome to the pressure cooker, Ilya.

Best-Case Scenario: Bryzgalov answers the bell. He plays at Vezina Trophy level all season. Giroux and Jagr develop instant chemistry, while Briere comes into his own as a center. The new guys all chip in. The defense plays very well. The Flyers win the Atlantic Division, and the top seed in the East. After knocking out their biggest tormentors in recent years (Montreal, Boston, Pittsburgh), they arrive at the Stanley Cup FInals against the L.A. Kings. The Flyers quickly show that they are better off without Mike Richards, and win in 5 games, their first cup since the Broad Street Bullies days.

Worst-Case Scenario: Bryzgalov struggles mightily, drawing the hatred of Philly fans. Jagr looks old and slow quickly, proving himself to be a waste of money. Pronger and Timonen look old and slow, leaving the defense in disarray. Giroux and Briere never seem quite in the right place. Mediocrity reigns supreme. And the Flyers just miss the playoffs, being eliminated with a loss to the Penguins on the last day. Bobby Clarke weeps.

–>Carolina Hurricanes (East #7, Southeast #3): The Hurricanes came up two points short of the 8th playoff spot in the East last season. Going 7-2-1 down the stretch just wasn’t good enough, and that’s saying something. Erik Cole has moved on, but his absence may give some great young stars a chance to step up. The defense gets a bit of an upgrade, and with all else being (more or less) the same inRaleigh, expect an upgrade in the standings. Eric Staal is the do-everything leader for the forwards. He had a big part in the team’s hot closing stretch, scoring 12 points in his last ten games. He gets assistance from Jeff Skinner, Tuomo Ruutu, and Jussi Jokinen. The team also attempted to ease the loss of Cole by bringing in Alexei Ponikarovsky. It may work out for the team,provided he is not expected to make any huge contributions.

The defense returns most of their regulars from last season, including offensive threat Joni Pitkanen. Joe Corvo is the one well-known departure, but the team clearly upgraded. They picked up Cup winner Tomas Kaberle from Boston, and they will gain much from his experience, offensive abilities, and his defensive talents. The other guys are solid, even if you don’t know their names. Yeah, I didn’t know them either until I looked them up. Piss off.

Yet again, we go goalie with the….

Key Player: Cam Ward, G — Or is it CamWard? John Forslund confuses me with that. Anyways, Ward played more games than Carey Price last season. Does that worry me? Absolutely. But Ward has done it before, and with Brian Boucher as his backup, he’ll get a lot more rest this season, and more than Vanilla Price will in Montreal. The guy won the Conn Smythe Award. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Best-Case Scenario: Ward does get support from Boucher, which allows him to thrive at about 60 games. Staal plays to his capabilities, with Skinner avoiding a sophomore slump, and solid contributions from the Finns and from Ponikarovsky. Kaberle is a natural fit, back with his former coach Paul Maurice. The Canes get on a run again this season in the late stages, but this one lifts them to the #4 seed and home ice in the first round against fellow Southeast Division member Tampa Bay. Carolina knocks off the Lightning, then takes another Southeast foe, the Caps, to a Game 7 before falling in D.C.

Worst-Case Scenario: Cam Ward can’t handle the workload this season, looking like a fatigued goaltender in the middle of the season. Brian Boucher is decent, but decent isn’t good enough this season. Staal is his usual solid self, but he doesn’t get any help. Skinner swoons, Jokinen only excels in shootouts, Ruutu suffers an injury, and Ponikarovsky goes AWOL. Kaberle and Pitkanen try to pick up the slack, but they abandon their defensive responsibilities far too often, and Boucher suffers because of it. The Canes miss the playoffs once again, and this season, it isn’t even close. Maurice suffers the consequences, and is sent packing by Jim Rutherford.

–>New York Rangers (East #6, Atlantic #2): The Rangers managed to impressively hold off the Canes down the stretch last season. They quickly ran out of steam, though, falling to the Capitals in the first round, going out with a whimper. John Tortorella is back again, and while he has a lot of returning players this season, there is one new name sure to make an impact on the roster up front. On the blue line, there is a big absence early on due to injury, which will be a challenge. Will it all come together and allow them to make an impact in April (and beyond)?

If the Rangers are going to do anything, Henrik Lundqvist will be at the forefront. He played 68 games, but a lot of those were down the stretch, while Martin Biron was on the shelf. King Henrik responded well, including a very good 2.26 GAA in the playoffs. Needless to say, he wasn’t the reason that the Rangers were done in 5 games. The defense in front of him wasn’t a problem either. That may not be the case this season, though. Marc Staal, the best player on the Blueshirts’ blue line, won’t be around to start off the season due to injury, leaving a gaping hole. Dan Girardi will do all that he can in the meantime, but Lundqvist may be cleaning up many messes, at least until Staal returns.

The forwards are largely the same going into the 2011-12 season. Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan will be stalwarts, while Marian Gaborik will try to score goals at the pace he is capable of. The depth at forward is underrated as well, with names like Fedotenko, Boyle, Prust, Anisimov, Stepan, as well as new addition, Mike Rupp. However, Rupp isn’t the new addition getting everyone’s attention….

Key Player: Brad Richards, C — The big signing of free agency was this man, who left Dallas and was wooed by just about every team with cap space. The Rangers won the bidding for his services, and now it’s on Richards to deliver. He needs to play like a man of his paycheck, and he didn’t always do so in Dallas. It was a risk for Glen Sather to sign him. Richards’ ability to live up to his billing will ultimately decide the Rangers’ fate.

Best-Case Scenario: All the pieces fit together in the puzzle. Scoring starts with Richards and Gaborik, and goes all the way down to the 4th line. The defense is serviceable until Staal returns, at which time they really lock teams down. Lundqvist makes the saves he needs to make. The Rangers tread water early, but really come on strong after the Winter Classic, taking the division lead in March and never looking back. They take the #2 seed, and dispatch their Winter Classic opponents, the Flyers, in the first round. After that, they are tested by the Bruins, but eventually pass the test. They still can’t get past their postseason nemesis, the Washington Capitals, but a run to the conference finals is the start of a great run by the Rangers in the years to come.

Worst-Case Scenario: Staal’s absence is immediately noticed. The defense has Swiss cheese-sized holes that are exposed, with Lundqvist left hung out to dry. The offense, expected to be a real strength, flounders for most of the season. Gaborik’s fragile body comes back to haunt him again, and without their sniper, the rest of the forwards struggle to pick up the slack. The supposed marquee matchup at the Winter Classic is instead an embarrassing affair for the Rangers, and it leads to a tailspin that keeps them out of the playoffs. Tortorella gets the ax, and Larry Brooks weeps.

–>Buffalo Sabres (East #5, Northeast #2): The Sabres, with one change, have changed their franchise’s future, maybe forever. Terry Pegula’s purchase of the team turned one of the NHL’s strictest-budgeted teams to one of it’s biggest spending teams. The checkbook was opened, and because of that, this Sabres team may be a team on the rise.

The team’s offense is stronger going into this season, thanks to keeping key players while adding a talented winger in Ville Leino. Leino was a big part of Philadelphia’s season last year, and will do wonders to take on some of the scoring load that is typically on Thomas Vanek’s shoulders. Vanek often delivers despite the pressure, but Leino’s addition will be a welcome one. Derek Roy, Brad Boyes, Jason Pominville, among others, will similarly be looking to take on more of the scoring load. The team scored the 4th-most goals in the conference last season, and with this lineup, the Sabres are likely to go up that list.

The defense retains great players in Tyler Myers and Andrej Sekera, while adding two more in Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff. It may not be the best Top 4 in the league, but it’s damn good. And behind them, capable defensemen will fill in the remaining minutes ably. This is all in front of….

Key Player: Ryan Miller, G — The best American goaltender today still has yet to lead his team to the Stanley Cup. Now, the last couple years, the team in front of him hasn’t been good enough for that. But this season is a different story. The scoring is deep, the defense is good. If Miller can play like he did in the Olympics, we might see the Sabres lift the Cup for the first time.

Best-Case Scenario: Leino adds another scoring dimension right away, while Vanek takes advantage of teams paying a little less attention to him, putting home 45 goals, a career high. The new additions on defense make life hell on other teams’ forwards, leaving Miller to clean up the small messes. The Sabres take the Northeast Division, and ride momentum all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. A loss to the Canucks in the Finals ruins the storybook ending, but the Sabres will hold their heads high.

Worst-Case Scenario: Leino becomes an immediate bust, doing next to nothing all season long. Vanek draws all the attention, and again struggles (for him) with no one fully helping. The defense, expected to be reliable, struggles at times, leaving Miller helpless for (too long) stretches. What looked to be a promising season flames out in early April, and the Sabres miss the playoffs.

–>Tampa Bay Lightning (East #4, Southeast #2): The Lightning almost ended up back in the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but fell just short. Guy Boucher’s system caught many teams by surprise, and really wreaked havoc on the entire Eastern Conference. Now, the challenge is duplicate that feat, but actually make it to the Cup Finals. Oh, yeah, not to mention win the whole damn thing. They have the talent. Will they still have the success, though, with 29 other teams having time to prepare for them?

On offense, it’s tough to get better from 1 to 3 than Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Stamkos. Beyond that, Ryan Malone hopes to finally fulfill the monetary investment Tampa made, and then, well, um, uh, Dana Tyrell? Steve Downie? Yeah, they are thin towards the bottom, which can be a problem sometimes. Another problem is that the defense doesn’t have a consistent threat to create offense. They have very good to great defensemen, but none will make you worry about knowing where they are on a rush. Brett Clark, Mattias Ohlund, Victor Hedman, and Eric Brewer are perfect in Boucher’s system. But that’s all you will get out of them.

Here’s the real question mark….

Key Player: Dwayne Roloson, G — Another perfect fit under Boucher, Roloson came over midway through last season, and immediately showed he belonged by shutting out the Capitals in D.C. However, Roloson is 41 years old, and all the games he played are sure to take a toll this season. If he can handle the rigors of the season, then Tampa can be even better than last season. I don’t know how secure I’d feel as a Tampa fan.

Best-Case Scenario: Stamkos puts up 60+ goals, Lecavalier and St. Louis continue their great play, and enough support comes from the rest of the team offensively. The defense continues to thrive in Boucher’s system. Roloson plays a reasonable number of games, while his backup, Mathieu Garon, plays well in his work. Tampa challenges Washington all season long, then finally overtakes them in the last week of the season. With an easy road, the Lightning get back to the East finals, but this time, Roloson leads them into the Stanley Cup Finals. And with Stamkos taking the Conn Smythe Trophy, Tampa brings the Cup back to Florida with a win over the Blackhawks.

Worst-Case Scenario: Roloson flames out, and no matter what the rest of the team does, they can’t make up for it. Not only are the Cup Finals out of reach this season, the playoffs disappear, too.

–>Boston Bruins (East #3, Northeast #1): You may wonder why the Bruins, the Stanley Cup Champions, are sitting in third place in the conference. They kept the roster nearly the same. They have Tim Thomas in net, and Tuukka Rask backing him up. They have scoring depth, great defensemen, and a coach that knows how to get the most out of his team. What could possibly cause me to think a little less of them?

Two words: Championship hangover.

Well, that’s why I don’t expect them to win the Cup again. They aren’t given #1 in the East because the two teams ahead of them are likely to amass more points in the standings.

Thomas was great throughout the playoffs, no doubt. He showed his mettle repeatedly, culminating with his performance in the Cup Finals, repeatedly shutting down the Sedins. This season, as with last season, Thomas will split duties with Rask, allowing both to be well-rested and prepared for the playoffs. Also adding assistance to this will be the Zdeno Chara-led defense. Tomas Kaberle left for Carolina, but Joe Corvo effectively traded himself to the Bruins to fill the spot that was vacant. Dennis Seidenberg is back, along with the rest of a deep and skilled blue line.

The offense is once again led by committee, including David Krejci,Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, and Nathan Horton. Mark Recchi has retired, but the team is still extremely deep up front. Rich Peverley and youngster Tyler Seguin will add more to the team this season. But will it mean anything come playoff time?

Key Player: Claude Julien, Coach — Yes, off the board once more. Julien did a tremendous job with his team in the playoffs, leading them ably to the Stanley Cup. This season, however, will prove to be a different challenge. Will the players be focused at all times? Will they play with the necessary intensity? Can the team catch all the good breaks and avoid the bad ones, like they did last season? Julien may not be able to control everything, but he absolutely must control all that he’s able to in order to get this team back to the promised land.

Best-Case Scenario: The Bruins hum along on all cylinders once again. The offense gets many contributions. The defense plays at a high level. Thomas and Rask both thrive in their time-share. Julien keeps the boys focused. They take the division, then make it through three grueling series to see the Cup Finals once more. They face Detroit in an Original Six matchup, and in 7 games again, Thomas and the Bruins win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Worst-Case Scenario: The Bruins can’t seem to fire on enough of their cylinders. Injuries and ineffectiveness galore. Thomas and Rask both struggle mightily in the time-share. Claude Julien can’t understand why, but the team never responds, falling out of the playoff race in the last week. Julien is shown the door soon after.

–>Pittsburgh Penguins (East #2, Atlantic #1): The Penguins suffered massive injuries and it ruined any chances they had in last season’s playoffs. Without the two best players on the team, it was a long shot to do any damage. The fact that they fell 2 points short of the top seed in the East is a testament to Dan Bylsma and Marc-Andre Fleury. A new season brings renewed hope, and injuries are on the mend. There is still one question to be answered for this Penguins team. The answer to that question will decide a lot for the Penguins’ season.

Marc-Andre Fleury was incredible for the Penguins for large stretches last season. His numbers may not have been Vezina-worthy, but he played at an MVP level, making every big save, allowing the team to find ways to win without their best players. He could not win the Hart Trophy, but he definitely deserved it for what he did carrying the team. Brent Johnson backs up Fleury, and the drop-off is nearly nil when he’s in between the pipes.

The defense is led by arguably the best Top 4 in all of the NHL. Brooks Orpik and Zbynek Michalek give nothing up to opposing forwards, while Kris Letang and Paul Martin play fantastic two-way hockey. When you have a Top 4 at this level, you or I could be #6, and the Pens would be fine. The forwards are led by former top picks Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal. They are surrounded by many solid wings, including Chris Kunitz, James Neal, Steve Sullivan, and Tyler Kennedy. Those are all capable 20-goal scorers. However, this team all depends on one man….

Key Player: Sidney Crosby, C — He’s the best player in the world today. He was at his peak (to this point) when he got injured, and everyone wonders if he can ever get back to that peak when he returns. Even if he doesn’t get back there, he would add so much to the roster, and would easily be the best in-season acquisition in all of the league if/when he returns. Will he return, though? And if so, when?

Best-Case Scenario: Crosby returns in November, and makes an impact as the season wears on. It also helps that Evgeni Malkin plays like the best player in the world all season long. He wins the Art Ross and Hart Trophies. The Penguins ride Malkin’s coattails to the #1 Seed in the East. Marc-Andre Fleury plays well in the playoffs, while Malkin and Crosby take things by storm. And when they face off with the Kings in the Finals, it’s an inevitablity. The Penguins raise the Cup inside the Consol Energy Center.

Worst-Case Scenario: Crosby does return, but it’s not until January, and when he returns, he feels concussion symptoms return after 3 games. Malkin continues to struggle as he has over the last 3 years. James Neal can’t score. Marc-Andre Fleury has trouble stopping pucks. The Pens fall to 7th in the East, and are knocked out promptly by Boston in the first round. Some begin to wonder if a big change is coming to the Penguins, and that change comes in the name of a Sidney Crosby retirement announcement. I just threw up in my mouth.

–>Washington Capitals (East #1, Southeast #1): The Capitals have the best regular season squad in all of the NHL. But Stanley Cups aren’t won in the regular season. The Caps know this, and at least they continue to try to change the roster, adding playoff-tested players repeatedly. It hasn’t helped yet. And now, no matter what is done there, a playoff-untested competitor will be most important to the Caps’ playoff run.

Alexander Ovechkin is still ridiculously talented. He’s still surrounded by a great group of forwards. They have no problem scoring goals in the regular season. They do have problems scoring goals in the playoffs, which they continue to try to fix. This year, Joel Ward is added to the mix to be a contributor, especially in the playoffs. He should fit in well with the team, but his success, along with the success of the entire team, will be defined by the team’s playoff outcome.

The defense is still the same as the one that was eviscerated at times by Tampa in the playoffs. Alzner and Carlson showed themselves well in the regular season, but struggled in the playoffs, which was no surprise. Mike Green was inconsistent all season long. Dennis Wideman was a solid contributor after coming over from the Panthers. This is a defense that could be great or inconsistent all season long. But again, this is not about the regular season.

Key Player: Tomas Vokoun, G — After the Capitals unloaded Semyon Varlamov, for 24 hours, we thought they had decided on Neuvirth with Holtby as his backup. Instead, we were all thrown a curveball when Tomas Vokoun was signed (for a low monetary value). Vokoun is easily the best goalie to play for the Caps since their resurgence started. He has not been successful in the playoffs in his career, though. So, any Caps fan must temper their enthusiasm, and just hope that Vokoun can fit with this skilled team and make it better.

Best-Case Scenario: Nothing fancy here. It’s winning the Stanley Cup.

Worst-Case Scenario: Anything short of the Best-Case Scenario.

So, there you have the preseason previews. Now, it’s time for the Eastern Conference predictions:

First Round-

(1) Washington def. (8) Philadelphia, 4 games to 3;

(2) Pittsburgh def. (7) Carolina, 4 games to 1;

(3) Boston def. (6) New York, 4 games to 2;

(5) Buffalo def. (4) Tampa Bay, 4 games to 3

Second Round-

(5) Buffalo def. (1) Washington, 4 games to 2;

(2) Pittsburgh def. (3) Boston, 4 games to 3

Eastern Conference Finals-

(2) Pittsburgh def. (5) Buffalo, 4 games to 2

Pittsburgh represents the East in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup Finals-

(E2) Pittsburgh def. (W2) Los Angeles, 4 games to 2

Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Sidney Crosby

So, there you have it. The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup once again, with Sidney Crosby back in the saddle. But, these are not professional predictions. So, please, no wagering. Enjoy the NHL season….