Pittsburgh Penguins: A 2021 Playoff Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins are sitting comfortably in the East Division with 65 points in the second position, one point behind the Captials and two points ahead of the Islanders. The Penguins seem to be a contender once again. Even with the absence of Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev, these Penguins are looking very deep and have a solid d-core. Could we see the Penguins win the Stanley Cup again?

For the past three years, the Penguins have struggled to make it past the first and second rounds. Under Mike Sullivan, the Penguins play a game of speed and skill. They want to make you run around on defense all the while dishing out offensive threats. Not to mention the threat they have at the blue-line with Letang, Matheson, and Ceci who are all very mobile defenseman who love to jump into plays.

Kasperi Kapanen has proved to be a great addition to the team, helping the third line produce more points. He's got everything the Penguins embody-speed, hard work, and resiliency. This is a very experienced group, which also bodes well for the playoffs. Sidney Crosby has been playing very well and he wants another cup to add to his resume. He will be the great leader he always is in the playoffs and will take his game to another level. Unfortunately, there are some questions I have about the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The first problem I have with the Penguins is shaky goaltending. This is team I analyze very closely and this has been a problem form the very start of the season. With Matt Murray being gone, Sullivan had confidence in the young netminder, Tristan Jarry, to be the starter. Jarry started out the year terribly but eventually gained some momentum as the season went on. He has a 2.79 GA and a .908 save percentage. These stats are underwhelming. Being the go-to guy on a playoff-bound team is a lot to handle for a 25-year-old netminder who spent most of his career in the AHL.

The main issue with Jarry is his confidence and the technical issues he makes when he's in the crease. He often misplays the puck or plays it when he doesn't have to. He relies on his reflexes too much and plays too deep in the crease, allowing him to be sniped easily. Overall, he's just too inconsistent. Luckily for the Penguins, Desmith has had a breakout year. Desmith also shows weakness as well. He has a lack of experience, size, and athletic ability to steal a game. These are the main reasons the Penguins would be eliminated.

Evgeni Malkin has seen his fair-share of injuries. He's 34 years old and in the "new age" of hockey, it's all about speed. With the game being so fast, more and more players become susceptible to injuries. Malkin has played with many injuries and I'm starting to wonder if these are taking a toll on his body. The 34-year-old has not been himself this season and seems to be a bystander in the games. He gets his points and makes a few plays but doesn't seem actively engaged as he used to be, both physically and emotionally. This is worrisome because if the Penguins want to win another cup, they need Malkin on board.

Here's how I could see a Stanley Cup coming to Pittsburgh:

1. Offensive Depth

If the Penguins are able to score on their third and fourth lines consistently, it would be take huge load off their top six.

2. Goaltending

If Tristan Jarry is able to find his game, this team is a favorite to win the cup. Goaltending means everything in the playoffs, and if you don't get great goaltending, your chances are slim.

3. Defense

The Penguins defensive system has been less than stellar, and Kris Letang, Mike Matheson, and John Marino need to step up defensively to make it easier on their goaltender.