Pittsburgh Penguins Get Much Needed Adversity

After the grind of two Stanley Cup Champion seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had a bit of trouble with motivation this year.

With starting goaltender Matt Murray out for at least a week or two, the Pittsburgh Penguins face the first important test of the season.

Adversity is the Refiner’s Furnace

It is fairly well known that the best teams in pro sports tend to thrive on Adversity. Whether imagining themselves as the underdogs, or just the hated enemy, professional athletes play best with something to prove. The Pittsburgh Penguins are no different in that regard. They clearly play their best when they have something to prove. Whether it is Sidney Crosby showing the hockey world he hasn’t lost his scoring touch, or Jake Guentzel proving last season’s success wasn’t a fluke.

Pittsburgh Penguins

As I wrote previously, this season’s biggest challenge has been the lack of true adversity. True, the rest of the league still plays the Pens hard every game, and a playoff spot is never a sure thing. Still, there is a sense around the NHL that the Pens have little to play for right now, and it shows on the ice.

Finally Something to Prove

It took a couple of months, but now the Pens have something to prove. The lackluster play seen often so far this season, has caused Coach Mike Sullivan to mix his lines, and even bench usually-reliable defenseman Ian Cole. These moves looked to have started a mild turnaround, despite the injury to Evgeni Malkin. However, with the injury to Murray, there is a buzz arising around the team that bigger changes are needed to keep the Pens afloat.

I think this situation is exactly what the Penguins needed right now. It will clearly be a (hopefully) short-term challenge for the team to overcome. The Pens need to prove that they are good enough to win without Murray, and squelch the rising tide of calls for trades and changes. Believe me when I say this; the Pens are way better than they have shown so far this year.

The Time is Right

While no team or fan wants to see a player injured, especially a star like Murray, this setback comes at the perfect time. Aside from the adversity it creates, it also gives the Pens a chance to truly evaluate Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, who have both gotten limited opportunities to play in the NHL. Both appear to have NHL-caliber skill, but game experience is the only way to be sure. So far this season, Coach Sullivan has been reluctant to give Murray many nights off. Of course, the disastrous performance by former backup Antti Niemi was part of that reluctance.

For now, the coach’s hand is forced. He will have to play Jarry, and probably give DeSmith a fair number of starts too, depending on the length of Murray’s absence.

It All Comes Together

Here comes my bold prediction for December – expect the Pens to play extremely well in front of the young goalies, at least for the first few weeks of December. They will play with a renewed sense of urgency, and surge in the standings (not that it matters too much yet). They will finally resemble the team many of us think they are, scoring goals, blocking shots effectively, and moving across the ice with speed.

This sure does seem like a turning point for this season – let’s hope it’s a turn for the better.