Shea-ved Ice: Breaking Down The Streak
The Penguins are on a roll and have risen to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
The winning streak stands at 10 games and they'll be looking to extend it to 11 tonight when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.
What strikes me most about this streak isn't so much the statistics, but the attitude of the team.
Early in the season when things weren't going as well as many had hoped, there seemed to be a tentativeness about the team.
You were left almost waiting for slim third period leads to disappear because the team stopped attacking the puck.
During their 12-0-1 stretch, they've regained their confidence. Most notably Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury are unconscious right now.
It's hard to believe that Crosby could possibly take his game to a new level, yet he's doing it.
There's a sense that every time he touches the puck, he's either going to score or set someone else up.
For example, the first goal against the Devils on Monday. Most guys would not have been able to reel in an errant pass in full flight with the back skate. Somehow, Crosby did it and fired a quick pass over to Chris Kunitz for a one-timer that easily beat Johan Hedberg.
During his 16-game point streak he's amassed 18 goals and 13 assists. Just to throw out a comparison and to take a small dig at the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin only has 12 goals this season.
To reiterate, Crosby has more goals over the past 16 games, than Ovechkin does in 29 games.
Another fun comparison that only shows the futility of the Devils' offense: New Jersey has only scored 50 goals in 27 games. Meanwhile, Crosby has 24 goals by himself in 29 games.
It's also amazing how fast the talk about Steven Stamkos scoring 50 goals in 50 games has trailed off with Crosby decimating everything in his path en route to an eight point lead in the NHL scoring race.
As for Fleury, there's no question he's shaken off the slump he was mired in to start the season.
His performance of late is almost as mind-boggling as Crosby's from a statistical point of view.
He's won a personal-best, nine games in a row and has gone 11-0-1 in his last 12 starts. According to the Penguins' official website, he's posted a .941 save percentage and 1.64 goals-against average during the streak.
For the season he is 12-6-1 with a 2.35 GAA and .912 save percentage.
Cocky isn't the word to describe how the team is playing. There's a confidence and swagger about them.
They are doing all the little things that you need to do to win hockey games. Passes are crisp, shots are being blocked, rebounds are being cleared, etc.
It takes a total team effort to put a streak like this together and every single player on the roster is chipping in.
Just remember, Evgeni Malkin hasn't played in the last two games and was not on the ice for the team's morning skate today. Oh, by the way, there's that other center who hasn't played all season. I think his name is Jordan Staal.
Head coach Dan Bylsma will have some decisions to make when both guys return to the lineup, but I bet he'd be the first to tell you that having that kind of talent to choose from is a good problem to have.
You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CaseySheaPens
