2010-2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Regular/Postseason Assessment: Pittsburgh Penguins
Despite all odds, Pittsburgh Penguins remained big throughout the 2010-2011 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and playoffs. Missing some of their greatest players, Pittsburgh still kept itself intact and fought hard till it was all said and over,
as spectators looked on with dropped jaws.
Penguins started off their season in October of 2010 against the rowdy Philadelphia Flyers at home, which they lost by, 3-2. It was an up and down time for Pittsburgh, but the team remained steadfast and kept its ranking consistent in the upper levels.
Pittsburgh captain, Sidney Crosby, who is considered to be the greatest all-round players in the league at the young age of only 23, was forced out of completing his sixth straight season with his original draft team due to a season-ending concussion sustained
back-to-back in two games during the month of January.
Crosby, even after many comeback rumours, failed to return and finished off his season by having played 41 games and scoring a total of 66 points (32 goals, 34 assists) and a plus-minus rating of 20.
Evgeni Malkin was the second loss faced by Pittsburgh during the regular season which gave them a second blow to where it hurts most. The former second overall draft pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft only managed to play two more games than Crosby, and failed
to return after only 43.
The 25-year-old, hailing from Magnitohorsk, Russia, hit the boards hard in February of 2011 which ultimately resulted in his dismissal from the major league. Malkin was still able to pot 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) during the short time he was there.
According to latest reports, both Crosby and Malkin, one of the NHL’s elite duos are slowly but gradually in the recovery process and are expected to be in full health before the start of the new season. Their entry back into the NHL is highly anticipated
all around the world because of their dynamic abilities to perform and lead teams to greatness.
Even without their two key players, Pittsburgh Penguins still managed to finish of the regular season ahead of many big name teams. They secured the fourth number spot ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning and below Boston Bruins with 106 points and four straight
victories to end it. At home, the Atlantic Division team maintained a record of 25-14-2, while away they were 24-11-6.
They entered the 2011 NHL Playoffs against a team that remained normal during the regular season, but caught fire unexpectedly during the postseason and surprised everyone. Pittsburgh was ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 after game four ended, but as Tampa
Bay was destined to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, they won the next three games back-to-back and eliminated Penguins, who were in shock as to what happened to them.
Throughout the seven game series, there was rumour about Croby’s and Malkin’s return, which obviously had Lightning tensed. It could have been a technique to scare Tampa Bay, but it only worked up to a point, after that, Lightning were focused on winning.
Nevertheless, Pittsburgh might have had the most unexpected season due to the speculations which are after Crosby and Malkin were injured. Some even went up to the point as to say that they would not even make the playoffs, but were they wrong.
With dedication, Pittsburgh has proved to itself that it can do anything even without its top players. Having them back is certain to make Penguins unstoppable.
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