2009-2010 record: 47-28-7 (101 points)
Lost to Montreal in the conference semifinals 4-3
Captain: Sidney Crosby
Alternate captains: Evgeni Malkin
3 players to watch: Pittsburgh is Sidney Crosby. Sidney Crosby is Pittsburgh. Any doubts about who the face of the Penguins is right now were erased last season, as Crosby put the team on his back when Evgeni Malkin went down for a few games to injury. If he can control his emotions (read: Game 7 against Montreal), then Pittsburgh is almost certain to be a Stanley Cup contender again. Marc-Andre Fleury continued his inconsistent career, as he faltered in the playoffs last year. The normally "average in the regular season, spectacular in the playoffs" Fleury didn't play to expectations. Finding a happy medium is imperative, but he won't be in any danger of losing his starting job in Pittsburgh as long as he performs when the games count the most, as evidenced in the 2008 and 2009 playoffs. Defense let Fleury down part of the time last year, so the Penguins went out and signed two defensemen. One to look for here is Paul Martin, who offers a nice balance between offense and defense. He won't replace the offensive prowess of Sergei Gonchar, but he offers a nice two way game.
Things to look for: Pittsburgh will benefit from a longer offseason, as they have had deep playoff runs the previous two season. Last year would have been expecting too much, with the Olympic Games, but that is out of the way, so expect Pittsburgh to be closer to their high expectations. Finding wing men for Crosby and Malkin would help, as both can lift others' games, but too often, the talent level isn't where it should be. Crosby won't have to lift the team like he did last year for as long as Malkin can stay healthy. Jordan Staal, when he returns from injury, is the best number three center in the league. Martin and Zbynek Michalek were signed to bolster the team's blue line, and both are defensively responsible, which should make life easier for Fleury. However, the difference between a Stanley Cup final appearance and an early exit lies squarely on Fleury's shoulders.
Prediction: 2nd in the East
Song: Waylander-With Veins Afire
Pittsburgh is hungry to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals, and they certainly want to erase the bad taste of the Montreal series from last year. There is a lot of motivation for the team to be great.
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