Penguins Know They Have Not Been Good Enough
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been volatile all season and it's still an issue with the postseason looming.
PITTSBURGH - As the 2022-23 regular season nears its conclusion, the Pittsburgh Penguins have not sealed their playoff fate and volatility has plagued them all year.
From roster construction, to the performance of a majority of the lineup, the Penguins haven’t been good enough this season, and they know that.
Their volatility was highlighted again in the most recent loss to the Montreal Canadiens, despite leading by a pair of goals in the opening five minutes.
“We came out strong and kind of let our foot off the gas,” Kris Letang said. “Let them play an easy game. We didn’t have the same urgency.”
It’s not like the Penguins played an awful game against the Canadiens, they put up 43 shots on goal, but the defensive lapses and goaltending issues were plentiful, especially in the first period.
Regardless of the on-paper numbers, the Penguins didn’t score enough and loss out on two important points that they’ll need for their push to the playoffs.
Everyone that wears a Penguins logo recognizes that they haven’t been reaching their expectations and something needs to change soon.
“No answers, but we got to figure it out,” Jason Zucker said. “Because it’s not good enough.”
The Penguins don’t have much time to elevate their game; with only 15 games remaining, they have an uphill battle to hold onto a playoff spot.
“It's obviously not good enough,” Mike Sullivan said. “We didn't end up on the right side of the result.”
This kind of volatility can’t continue to follow the Penguins if they want to make a true run in the postseason.
It’s an issue that has hung around for too long and with the trade deadline come and gone, there won’t be any more sweeping changes.
It’s up to this group in the room to solve their problems and take a huge step forward.
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