Can the Pittsburgh Penguins Win the Stanley Cup Again?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been loaded with talent every season since they started in 1967, but this talent usually comes in spurts. This leaves one or two players with all the talent and a disappointing season most years. There have been, however, several seasons when everything comes together and there is a plethora of talent on the Penguins squad. It is these years that the mighty Pens go all the way and annihilates all the other teams in hockey. Last season was one of those years. This season may also be that kind of year. The problem so far has been the injury plagued second half. The bench is filling back up though and everyone is returning from the injured list just in time for the post season. The big question is whether the slump they have been in while Malkin and Gonchar were gone will continue, or will the Pens be able to hit the hot streak again and have a repeat of last season.

To answer these questions, all you need to do is look to the past. The only other times the Penguins have won Lord Stanley's Cup were the '91 and '92 postseasons. This back to back stretch was in a time that is very similar to now. The talent was there and all the opportunities fell into place. The second season was won by a team that did not perform as well as the prior year. Both appearances came with records that were not the best in hockey. The Pens have always been known as the toughest post season team in all of hockey. Just making it to the post season makes it possible for the Penguins to get the Cup.

This season has been full of ups and downs with several injuries throughout the year. This team was lights out in the first half of the season and led the entire league in points for most of this stretch. After the All Star Game, they began to slip. With just about every starter spending a few days on the injured list, the loss column started to add up. With the Capitals on a tear in the second half, the Pens quickly dropped from the number one spot. This does not mean that they are down for the count though. With several wins in the second half, and the dynamic first half, they have been given a ticket to the dance this post season.

Considering the history of this team, they are far from done playing. The Penguins have given several teams a true run for their money in the post season, and this year does not appear to be any different. The prior back to back championships also showed a dip in performance from the first to second Cups. This season is shaping up in the same way. The fact that everyone appears to be healthy now is a plus for this year. If the Pens can take a healthy roster into the post season, there will be no stopping the team. As they have proven early this year, they can easily topple any team they come across.

A repeat of last year's Stanley Cup playoffs is still a huge possibility. With this team's history, they could have a chance even if they were the worst in hockey. The Penguins have often shown that they are fierce competitors once the season ends, and have given many a team a run for their money. There is no way that the Pens can be counted out just yet. With Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar, Fleury, and Staal all healthy and at full strength, this team is unstoppable. If anything, this current slump that they are in may make the first round opponents drop their guard a bit and give them a free pass to round two.

Sources:

Pittsburgh Penguins Official Site

Pittsburgh Penguins Wikipedia