There was a time where the Penguins were the face of the "new" National Hockey League that emerged after the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season with young Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and eventually Kris Letang leading the way. But as always, Father Time is undefeated.
For the 35-year-old Letang, who has displayed extraordinary perseverance in having somehow been able to return to play after suffering a pair of strokes during his career, he knows that the Penguins can't play a certain style of hockey anymore if they expect to be successful, especially given his age along with Crosby and Malkin.
“I think we’re not 25 anymore, and that’s the first thing,” said Letang. “But yeah, sometimes you realize that when someone wants to score goals on you, and they’re willing to sell the farm to do so, playing good defense might actually lead to more or better offense.”
Letang and the Penguins have been able to rebound from a poor start, earning four straight wins to improve back over the .500 mark for the first time this year.
“So even if we have tons of skill and we can manufacture offense with actually nothing happening on the ice, the fact that if you force the opposition to make a mistake, it’s going to give you a better chance,” Letang continued. “So I think that’s what’s happening.”
Whether or not the Penguins will be able to continue their momentum remains to be seen. They have a chance for a 5th straight victory tomorrow when they take on their division rival Columbus Blue Jackets, who are once again having a rough start to their season.
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