Pittsburgh Penguins Three Stars of the Week

3. The Power Play

Sidney Crosby

(87) and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing

(14) during the first period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports” width=”300″ height=”200″ /> Jan 16, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing David Perron (39) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) during the first period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

We all remember the Pittsburgh Penguins power-play during the first month of the season. Every time they were given an opportunity on the man-advantage it seemed as if the puck ended up into the back of the opponent’s net. It cooled off significantly once the Penguins were hit with the injury bug and it took a while to regain any consistency.

With the addition of David Perron to the roster, it seems as if the Penguins have reestablished their prowess when the opposition is forced to play a man down. The Pens not only converted on four of seven power-play opportunities last week, they are beginning to do so at key moments in games.

On Tuesday against the Wild, Chris Kunitz gave the Penguins their two goal lead back a little over a minute after Minnesota pulled within one. The Pens jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against the Islanders on Friday after Sidney Crosby and David Perron converted on the only two opportunities of the game. Of course the Penguins would go on to lose, but it was at no fault of the power-play. Even on Sunday, after the Penguins found themselves trailing by two goals, Crosby finished off a feed from Perron to pull within one tally, but the Pens failed miserably in other areas.

Going forward the Pens are going to have to consistently convert at big moments in games and hopefully this trend continues.