USA Today's Kevin Allen On Mike Johnston: "I Doubt He's About To Be Fired"
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - With the Penguins off to an 0-3 start and the offense barely producing, USA Today NHL writer Kevin Allen joined Starkey and Mueller to talk about head coach Mike Johnston's job security.
"I think he's feeling pressure," Allen said. "I think he understands this is the nature of the beast if you're an NHL coach. I doubt that he's about to be fired at any point. If this stretched on five or six more games, well then maybe we talk about it."
Probably the biggest reason for the Pens slow start is their lack of offense and Allen says nobody out there could have seen this coming with all the talent the Pens have.
"When you analyze the Penguins' issues, nobody anticipated they'd have trouble scoring goals, and that's been a big part of it. At some point, Sidney Crosby is going to get shots on goal, lots of them, and Malkin is going to get points and goals and you're going to move forward."
Allen also talked specifically about what he has seen from Phil Kessel in his first three games with the Pens since being acquired this off-season.
"What I've seen in just watching the games on television is this whole offense is out of sync and their chemistry is not right yet. I think we sort of anticipated that there was going to be some sort of adjustment period, but it has been more pronounced."
Click the audio link below to hear more from Allen on the Pens, including the perception around the league of Malkin's struggles as he has now gone the past 18 games without a goal.