The Pittsburgh Penguins need to sharpen up mentally to make a serious run this season.

This past month the Pittsburgh Penguins have turned the corner on their 2022-23 season. Since losing to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 7-2, the Penguins have rattled off a 7-2-1 record to place themselves in an advantageous position in the playoff hunt.

While the talent of this Penguins team has been shining through in recent weeks, the cracks are beginning to show exactly why this team has struggled to find consistency all season long.

The worst moments of this team boil down to mental lapses, whether it's defensive breakdowns in their zone or overall failure to push the pace when leading late in games.

The Penguins are among the worst teams in the NHL at keeping a lead, having blown 17 third-period leads this season. Usually, when leading after two periods, the Penguins play most of the final frame in the defensive zone, eliminating any hope of extending their lead and giving their opponents a chance to build momentum until the dam eventually breaks.

Two of their three losses during this stretch have come in games where the Penguins dominated their opponent. According to Natural Stat Trick, they controlled 69% of the expected goals against the Islanders and 74% against the Canadiens. In both instances, a short stretch of defensive lapses cost the Penguins pivotal points in the standings.

To close out games, the Penguins must balance being defensively responsible without forfeiting their momentum in the offensive zone. And to contend late in the season, the Penguins must find a way to keep their tendency to break down in their zone to a minimum. 

If they can clean up those areas, they will be a much more difficult team to beat the rest of the way and have the talent to catch fire once the playoffs begin.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgEV5W2Rpo[/embed]

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more!

Jake Guentzel's Outstanding 'Down' Season for Penguins

Penguins vs. Rangers: Back on Broadway

Penguins Must Face the Music With Jeff Carter

Penguins Place Dmitry Kulikov on LTIR

Playoff Chances Shrink, but Penguins Still Lead the Pack

• undefined
• undefined