Keep Your Fingers Crossed

I've heard a decent amount of people say we're entering the 1984 that George Orwell envisioned. But, to any Penguins fan, entering 1984 would be good thing.

The last time there was a stanley cup rematch in back to back years was when Gretzky, Messier, Jarri Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers asserted themselves against the "unbeatable" New York Islanders. The records indicate that was when there was a dynasty switch, as Edmonton rolled on to their 5 cups in 7 years. Many sports announcers have compared our team with that of Edmonton's in the mid-eighties, and there is no doubt that we have promise to be. The only question remaining is: Can they do it?

Winning the cup this year would set up a power shift from us to Detroit. They've been the best team in hockey since the late nineties, and despite a few early playoff exits, no one has doubted their ability to win games. It'd be a stretch to say they've been doing it quietly, because everyone knows how good Detroit is. But, they don't flaunt their success. They are also one of a few elite teams in pro sports that actually expect a championship each year, with the Patriots and the Yankees, for example. But, I see a way that the penguins can end this continued success.

Detroit hasn't lost a cup series since 1995 to New Jersey, which provided them the experience they needed as a group to be able to compete for the cup, which they did in 1997 and 1998. Granted, the team roster is quite different now, but the wisdom those players from the cup years gave to the younger ones is proving to be quite useful.

The Penguins did not have this luxury when they played Detroit in the cup last year. They skated erratically, and looked like they were a step behind every play, and weren't able to make much of anything happen. Despite our 2 wins that showed we had learned something, we just weren't good enough. Bouncing back from a loss in the cup finals was considered by many to be near impossible in today's leauge, but we've shown what raw talent can do. It can learn quickly. Very quickly.

The first year Sidney Crosby was in the playoffs, the Ottawa Senators manhandled us. From that experience, we learned what it took to win playoff games. The next year, we did just that, and got to the cup. Since we had no experience there, we lost, despite the fact that we showed we could compete. This year, we're back.

There's a million ways to rationalize why the Penguins can win the cup this year. But hockey isn't rational, and the only thing that can happen is what happens on the ice. But, if you look at trends, you might be able to have faith in the fact that destiny may be on our side.

Lets Go Pens