The Pittsburgh Penguins must be Above the Laws

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a bit of a late season slump.  Losers in 8 of their last 11 games and look who they have been losing to; Florida, NYR, Carolina, Colorado, all potential playoff matchups.

Are the Penguins starting to show fear?  Losing can create doubt.  Doubt can amplify fear.  Fear is not a good thing when it come to professional sports.  Teams and competitors can smell fear a mile away and 100% take advantage of this during game play.

Here are 5 Laws that the Penguins must be above, before entering the 2022 NHL Playoffs.

Murphy’s Law

Murphy’s Law states: the more you fear something, the more likely it will happen.

The Penguins have been bounced in the first round of the Playoffs in each of the last three years. (NYI, Montreal, NYI)

Goaltending has been inconsistent over this time, with Jarry #35, especially struggling in last year’s Playoffs vs NYI.

The Penguins must lose the Fear of First Round Failure. Both the New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens are not making the playoffs this season.  The Penguins are starting this year’s playoffs with a clean slate, no baggage, no history, just a calm blue ocean in front of them.  Go git ‘em boys.  No Fear.

Gibrat’s law

Gibrat’s Law states: the problem at work is no one tells you what to do.

Well, the reality is that Head Coach Mike Sullivan has been preaching what to do and how to play, since training camp.  So much so, that from Mid-November 2021 until Mid-March 2022, the Penguins were arguably playing the best hockey in the entire NHL.  Defense Wins Championships boys.  Trust the Coach, Trust the gameplan, trust your teammates, trust the process.

Kidlin’s Law

Kidlin’s Law states: if you can write down the problem clearly, then you have solved half the problem.

The problem is, the Penguins need their stars to be the stars during the playoffs.  Scorers need to score, Defense needs to shut people down and Goalies need to play “Rock-Solid” and steal games.  There, I said it, now go make it happen Pens.  Own it.

Walton’s Law

Walton’s Law states: if you put information and intelligence first, at all times, then the money keeps coming in.

The Penguins have used history, stats, and analytics to build this team, which they feel can win the Stanley Cup right now.  They have been battle-tested all year and survived.  They have the team chemistry needed to compete for the championship.

The money comes into the organization during the NHL Playoffs, with each and every round the Penguins advance to.  It’s Winning Time.

Falkland’s Law

Falkland’s Law states: when you don’t have to make a decision, then don’t.

The Penguins have had to make many decisions in this ever-challenging hockey season.  Some of their biggest decisions were made (?) or not made, with their pending list of Free Agents.  By not trading them or signing them to long term extensions, the Penguins as an organization, have drawn a line in the sand and basically stated this is the last hurrah for this group.

This year’s “No Decision”, will become “The Decision,” for this year’s playoff run, as well as how the Penguin line-up will look next season.  Game On.

My View from the Cheap Seats

The bad news is, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been bounced in the First Round of the NHL Playoffs for the last three years.

The good news is, the Pittsburgh Penguins have made the Playoffs, 16 years in a row.

The great news is, the Pittsburgh Penguins are only four years removed from winning their last championship and still have the pieces to compete for the cup again this season.  As long as the Penguins stay above the Law’s, they have a chance.  Let’s Go Pens.

Quote of the Day

“No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it”

Theodore Roosevelt – USA President