icedog97

"Penguins Hockeybuzz Blog"

Pittsburgh, PA • United States • 48 Years Old • Male

Let's Hope It's 1992 All Over Again...Sort Of

Last night was another example of the Penguins NOT "getting to their game" against a quality opponent.

Against division leaders this year the Pens have routinely not gotten to "their game", going a remarkable 3-11-3 in those contests (all 3 wins vs the Sabres).

That's the record of LAST YEAR'S Stanley Cup Champions against THIS YEAR'S Stanley Cup Finals favorites.

No matter how you look at those numbers...they never look any better.

As Terrell Owens once said (can't believe I am about to quote him)..."It is what it is."

As someone once said well before that, "You can't polish a turd."

I REALLY thought it was important for the Pens to put forth the effort and get a big win last night.

Based on that, today I am thinking that maybe time is running out on our birds.

Maybe they just don't have what it takes to turn it ON when needed.

Maybe they just can't "get to their game" against good teams.

Hell...maybe...just maybe...it has been so long since they have gotten to their game that they have FORGOTTEN what their game is!

OK...time to take a deep breath....

I am feeling a little better...but not much.

I heard Phil Bourque mention on the radio the other day that in 1991-92, when the Penguins repeated as Cup Champs, the team really didn't find that sense of URGENCY, until they were down 3 games to 1 in round one, after the Washington Capitals beat them 7-2 on April 25th.

Somehow, that 7-2 loss...and being on the brink of elimination...helped the Pens "find their game" and go 15-2 the rest of the way (sweeping the conference and cup finals).

Looking at this year's potential playoff match-ups, it's almost a certainty that IF the Penguins make it out of the first round, they would face the Capitals in the second round (assuming seeds 1 thru 4 stay as they are today and both teams win round 1).

We can only hope that the Penguins have found their game BEFORE facing the Capitals this time around.

Because unlike the 1992 playoffs, I can't see this Penguin's team beating this year's version of the Capitals, if they happen to fall to a 3-1 deficit in the series.