When entering the 2013-14 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins were faced with some challenges right from the start. Defenseman Kris Letang and goaltender Tomas Vokoun were placed on injured reserve to start the year. Vokoun, who sparkled throughout the playoffs last season for Pittsburgh will be out indefinitely with blood clots in his pelvis. James Neal has been the most recent to be placed on the shelf after re-aggravating his “upper-body” injury in the season opener.
Aside from the injuries, the Penguins had to part ways with some key players in the offseason. Jarome Iginla signed with the Boston Bruins after turning away from them at the trade deadline last year. Douglas Murray was not signed to an extension and now resides in Montreal. Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy who were huge role players in the team’s 2009 Stanley Cup run went on to sign with their new respective clubs.
On paper, this team looks like a contender every year with the talent they have in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Letang, Neal, Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis and Brooks Orpik.
Going into Friday, they hold the top spot in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-1-0 record (12 points) through their first seven games.
Ironically, with the players mentioned not at Head Coach Dan Byslma’s disposal, he has been forced to shake things up with his lines and rely on new role players in order to avoid an early season collapse.
With Kennedy and Cooke out of the equation, Byslma has been forced to reconstruct his third line.
Defensively, he has kept his top unit together with Orpik and Paul Martin, “the shut-down unit.” Matt Niskanen and Rob Scuderi have been working well together as the second pair. And the third unit has been a defenseman-by-committee depending on the opposing team that given night.
So far, with the help of new assistant coach and defensive mastermind Jacques Martin, the Penguins have given up just 16 goals through seven games (2.28 GAA). With a slew of tests coming up on the schedule in the Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh will look to continue their success at home where they are a perfect 4-0-0.
As mentioned, there have been a number of players who have already contributed to this team’s early success. However, there are three individuals who have truly stood out to me as this season’s X-Factors.
Ekiert’s Three Stars throughout the first seven games:
3. Jussi Jokinen
When Ray Shero acquired Jokinen from the Carolina Hurricanes last season, it was more so an insurance policy due to the injury to Crosby. The team attempted to replace the offensive firepower with a player who can score, kill penalties when needed, win faceoffs, forecheck and simply be a presence night in and night out.
After being tossed in and out of the lineup going into the playoffs, it was uncertain what Jokinen’s role would be going into the 2013-14 season. Bylsma had a hunch that the 30-year old forward may be able to build chemistry with Malkin and serve well as a top-6 forward.
Jokinen did just that throughout the preseason and throughout the first few weeks of the regular season. He scored his second career hat trick on October 8 against his former team in a 5-2 victory over Carolina.
He has been trying to solidify his role and make a mark playing with Malkin on the second line. With the injury to Neal, Jokinen has been filling the void nicely with four goals and two assists on the year while sporting some power play time.
When Neal returns to lineup, it will be hard to think that the three will not stay together on what could be the best second line in the National Hockey League.
2. Olli Maata
The 19-year old defenseman has been more than impressive and living up to the hype thus far.
So far, he has been serving as one of the Penguins’ defensemen on the third unit that also includes Robert Bortuzzo and Deryk Engelland.
Maata, who was Pittsburgh’s first round pick in the 2012 draft has shown great awareness on the ice. His skating ability is similar to Orpik (one of the best skaters in the league). He has also shown signs of offensive talent and has also seen time on the power play.
With Letang nearing a return, it will be hard to predict what Bylsma will do with the young blue-liner. With only three games remaining until the 10-game mark, the Penguins will have the option to either send him back to junior hockey to continue to develop his game or keep him at the NHL level.
Either way, Maata has filled another void for Bylsma and shown great poise in his first handful of games in his NHL career.
If he stays, look for this kid to get even better playing with mentors like Letang and Orpik.
1. Marc-Andre Fleury
Who would have thought?
After his second consecutive post-season downfall, it was uncertain who would get more starts in goal this season until Vokoun’s unfortunate injury.
One could say he got his starting job back by default.
Whatever the case may be, the “Flower” has been nothing short of brilliant in net for the Penguins. He has won all six starts to this point and sported a ridiculous 1.67 GAA and .932 save percentage.
Fleury’s problems he has faced in the past are now the past. It is imperative for him to stay on track mentally and show this coaching staff and fans he is more than a mediocre netminder. Although his struggles only appear to surface during April, he may have some extra motivation this season. After being left off Canada’s roster for the Olympics, he is determined to play out of his mind in order to earn a spot so he can represent his country in February.
When Vokoun returns, it will more than likely be a 50/50 split for the remaining month or two of the regular season. And once the playoffs roll around, it is hard to say what will happen. But no matter how well Fleury performs through March, he will probably get the nod come playoff time with a shorter leash than last year, especially if Vokoun is back to form.
Despite all of that, Fleury has earned back the love and support of the fan base in Pittsburgh and the Penguins look to be a force in the Eastern Conference once again this season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
