| A lot of Pittsburgh fans are blaming their recent slump | | | | great goalie that will play better in a few weeks. |
| on the absence of their star, Evgini Malkin. They are | | | | However, the offense is a different problem. They just |
| hoping that his return in the next few days will fuel | | | | can't score goals. Since Malkin left, they have been |
| them to a come back in the standings. | | | | scoring less and less goals every single game. |
| I decided to crunch the numbers and see how big of | | | | Like I said before, they have scored only three goals in |
| an impact Malkin's absence has truly had. | | | | the last four games. At the beginning of the season, |
| Since Malkin's Absence | | | | they were scoring 4-5 every game. They just can't |
| So far, Malkin has missed six games and during those | | | | put the puck in the net like they were at the beginning |
| six games the Pens lost four of them. That's more | | | | of the season. |
| than they have lost the entire season before that. | | | | What I Think Happened |
| They are losing these games for two reasons, they | | | | I think that the Penguins are in a slump because they |
| are not playing well in the defensive zone, and they | | | | got hit by a lot of things at the same time. I think that |
| are not getting chances in the attacking zone. | | | | Fleury and the offense start their slumps at about the |
| I can imagine Malkin helping with the offensive zone | | | | same time. Also, at right about the same time, Malkin |
| part and probably a little bit on the defensive end too, | | | | was injured. |
| but he wouldn't be the answer that the Pens are | | | | It's always a little scary for any team when one of |
| looking for. | | | | their best players is not playing. Malkin's injury probably |
| Past 4 Games | | | | turned the momentum on the offense and took away |
| The past 4 games for the Penguins have been terrible. | | | | their morale. They weren't sure how to react. |
| I took a look at the scores and I really don't think that | | | | It's even harder when a player has played in as many |
| there is anything meaningful that Malkin could have | | | | consecutive games as Malkin has. He's not the guy |
| done to help. | | | | that you would think of as leaving a team with an |
| In the last 4 games, they have only scored 3 goals, | | | | injury. The Pens just weren't able to plan for that. |
| they were shut out twice, and beaten by at least a 3 | | | | It's going to be very difficult for the Penguins for a |
| goal margin in every game. | | | | while. I really don't think that the return of Malkin is going |
| While they have only scored 3 goals in the last 4 | | | | to change anything except the atmosphere. However, |
| games, they have given up 17. | | | | that alone could be enough to win some more games. |
| That means that the offense isn't the only problem, the | | | | Hopefully, Malkin will be able to start producing right |
| defense is having trouble too. I honestly think that | | | | away. He's a great player, but he may need a little bit |
| Fleury is in a slump and not really playing his best | | | | of time to get back to the level he was at before he |
| hockey. That's not something to worry about, he's a | | | | was injured. |