Penguins still facing questions

After struggling for several months, a coaching change helped turn things around for the… After struggling for several months, a coaching change helped turn things around for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who begin their playoff run Wednesday night as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference against the Philadelphia Flyers.

So, what are the key questions awaiting the Penguins for another trek to hockey’s prominent stage?

The Penguins have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the past two months. Is momentum enough to ride this team to a deep playoff run, though?

Sergei Feldman: Momentum alone won’t buy you a hot dog, much less a deep playoff run. Fortunately for the Penguins, they have talent, depth and experience to complement the intangible commodity. Like the prince of Bel-Air, the Penguins are fresh. That happens when you cruise through four months of a season like a senior might in a final semester. Unlike other teams that actually played consistently well, the Penguins have only played two months of full-throttle hockey. Talent, depth, experience and rest might make a third title for Pittsburgh.

Greg Trietley: Yes, thanks to interim head coach Dan Bylsma, the Penguins have an unbelievable record in the final stretch. Pittsburgh surged from 10th in the conference to contenders under its new coach. This is not the same team that floundered its way to a .500 record in the first half of the season.

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury started 36 of the Penguins’ last 39 games. Will the wear-and-tear catch up to him in the playoffs?

GT: Every player wears down as the playoffs progress, but at age 24, Fleury’s youth should get him through any long overtimes and crease melees. Playoff adrenaline has pulled players through everything from concussions to broken legs. If last year’s Cup-run showed anything, Fleury can handle a grueling playoff schedule.

SF: Fleury ranks eighth in the NHL in games played by goaltenders. Also, of the other seven, he is the youngest. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Well, Fleury sports an admirable tan and is starving.

At this point, how far do you think the Penguins will go in the playoffs?

SF: With the way the Penguins have played since replacing Therrien with Bylsma, it is not outside the realm of plausibility for them to win a best-of-seven series in just three games. They’re almost that good. In fact, they can even consider themselves the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. There is, however, a caveat — every other Eastern Conference contender thinks the same thing. If the Penguins realize the journey to the finals is wide open and simply rely on the pieces they have, they should yet again find themselves in the finals.

GT: The Penguins will not advance past the second round. They do not have the depth to compete with possible conference semifinal opponents Boston and Washington. Both teams out-hit and outscore Pittsburgh. Boston allows the least goals against per game in the NHL, while the punishing Capitals wear opponents down — the only regular less than 6 feet tall is goaltender Jose Theodore.

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