When this division gets into "The meat of the season" top players are not gonna miss so many wide open chances they have been. The team is playing Russian Roulette as
@Jesse is stating about "Flying the zone too early" but even when they don't they have issues making the simple plays. Maybe looking/thinking the play too fast or just in a hurry when they don't need to be. Stuff like, having the puck roll offer their stick, or not putting enough air under the puck getting it out. I think Geno falls under the puck rolling off his stick trying to hurry up, is part of your Malkin nitpicks. In general just how much this stuff happens to the better players. Jake had that happen to him a few times. I almost want to label it a "Shearyism" because that's a lot what made him fall down. Himself out playing the puck and abruptly having to stop for the puck coming off his stick. Thing is, I understand it along the boards (stuff happens "snow") but in open ice this shouldn't be happening to star players with great puck handling skills. For some degree the opposition is at fault being aggressive. That's a huge great deployment by them because, they do it enough can make it seem like they (Pens players) don't have time to make plays and speed up their reactions. Part of why they're constantly peeking over their shoulders and rushing. Playing scared hockey.
That's the thing, there are guys who can play fast in their mind and not physically with the puck, and vice versus. Teams playing aggressive fast hard hockey will weed out who on your team can handle it and who can't. Those who keep looking over their shoulders are very much not in-tune with that kind of hockey. Scared hockey. Scared to play the puck to get injured, and scared to keep the puck on their stick looking and having it roll off their stick.
With this teams injury history and how teams play them, I totally understand. They have been outlasting teams barely to squeak out wins.
I think the team is built upon a lot of the same. I think that makes them more prone to neutralize their own brand of hockey. They can't really dish it out, and they get pulverized having to lean a lot more on the depth that isn't quite "up to snuff" like it used to be. Always ever changing.
When you are starting from scratch, that'll be even more apparent.
Maybe it's the type of players they are isolating on? Teams are not giving them a free pass. Much like having Rust and Zucker on the same line. Kapanen might bring that size and beef that line is looking for.
Look... Now I'm rambling like you said about yours leading astray into Malkin talk. I'll stop here. Sorry!
