re: Unofficial NHL Season-Long Thread: Puckheads Unite!

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It's always Cup or bust

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Then it's been a lot of bust. The Pens have only won four playoff series in the past five seasons. Though I agree this team has the expectation to win Cups and needs to be graded on that curve.

the Pens do have the best record right now, and even more impressively, they have 20 ROW, also leading the NHL. They also have a PDO of 103, which leads the NHL as well. they have been the league's most "puck lucky" team (but given their injury problems, I hesitate to call them lucky, I think their luck has balanced - terrible off the ice and terrific on the ice).

That PDO is hiding the fact they are 12th in FenClose, and teams not in the top 10 of FenClose don't win the Cup (usually they are top 5). They are also extremely dependent on special teams, which is a bad recipe for the playoffs, when refs swallow their whistles. I don't think this team has really solved their structural issues, but we'll see come playoff time if its the same old Penguins.

What is interesting is how great Kris Letang is playing. He's been one of the best D-men in the NHL this year, after slumping a bit last season. A legit shutdown pair that can also generate offense (with Martin) is something the Pens haven't really had. Also, the collapse of the Bruins helps everyone in the East.