There's no replacing Sidney Crosby, whose camp is currently dealing with radio hosts spreading retirement rumors. There's no replacing Evgeni Malkin, whose presence on the power play could make converting a chance seem more likely than hitting the lottery.
The closer the playoffs come, the more the Pittsburgh Penguins are coming to grips with playing the hand they've been dealt.
"Obviously it was tough times losing all those guys, but right now we have to play with what we have in the lineup," said Kris Letang to Penguins Report.
"I think everyone's starting to get a good feel of each other and the new lines, the new guys on D and the new pairings. So everybody's starting to be a little bit more comfortable and I think that's the whole reason for our success right now."
The Penguins face the Montreal Canadiens this afternoon (CBC, 2 p.m.) in what will be the 200th straight sellout for Pittsburgh. They're five points up on the Habs, and four points in back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the conference lead (who have a game in-hand). The Pens are 4-2-4 in their last 10, hanging tough to earn charity points in the East standings.
"In terms of ourselves, you play a lot of games and near the end of the year you look at your own position. Games start to take on a different tenor, the intensity of the games, meaning of the games, the closeness of the games starts to build up and we're in that phase right now. It's a good thing for our team to be in playoff-type games," said Coach Dan Bylsma.
Question is: Can the pressure of filling the void left by Crosby and Malkin, combined with playoff intensity, prove too much?
Marc-Andre Fleury admitted to Radio Canada this week (via Pensburgh) that, for the first time, he's putting extra demands on himself to make a difference:
"At first, I always answered no to this question. But now, I've got to say a little bit. My goal is to give the team a chance to win every game. In order to do that, I've really got to make more big saves and allow the fewest number of goals possible. We don't have the same offensive firepower as before."
No, they don't. And yet here are the Penguins, fourth in the East and within a reasonable distance of the conference title. Which is a tribute to the players in that room, to GM Ray Shero's transactions, and Coach Dan Bylsma creeping into the Jack Adams conversation.
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