Peaking too early?

[Candyman]

I seem to remember last season (given it was a full season) we were real hot with about 15-20 games to go, then things went drastically downhill. I just can't help but wonder if we're peaking to early once again and I hope I'm wrong and just being pessimistic but do you think teams will figure us out again before the playoffs?

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[Til the End of Time]

i've actually been wondering the exact same things.

all these regular seasons wins lead to a lot of feel-good moments and circle jerks around here, but the regular season means squat.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

As long as we do not do a full Ovy with how he is panning our his season as a team we will be fine.

 

[Cardboard Orpik]

I thought this about Chicago.

It hasn't entered my mind with this team though, because I don't think we've peaked. This win streak is due to the fact that our defense has finally figured out how to play and is slowly adjusting to a better system. We're still experiencing some growing pains, we've just got enough sheer talent to win despite of that. I think this team will be a lot better three weeks from now.

 

[Killswitch7187]

Well, we played our best hockey the year we won the cup around the time of March, and it continued all the way into the playoffs. So I wouldn't say, "too early" at all.

I know you're not suggesting for them to lay off the gas pedal, but nonetheless, I'd much rather have my team show signs of playing well than worry about if they can get their act together.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I seem to remember last season (given it was a full season) we were real hot with about 15-20 games to go, then things went drastically downhill. I just can't help but wonder if we're peaking to early once again and I hope I'm wrong and just being pessimistic but do you think teams will figure us out again before the playoffs?

I think last season, for whatever reason, when Sid returned, it threw off the momentum the team had and yeah, this year it's different. The team is gelling a little more right now and with no one coming back all of a sudden or anything like that, I think they will be fine.

 

[Captain Hook]

Not really.

Bylsma took over with 25 games left in 2009 and this 8 game streak started with 27 games left. Just a matter of being able to sustain it into the playoffs like we did in 2009 and haven't really done since.

 

[Shockmaster]

I think in order to avoid another collapse in the playoffs, Shero cannot fall in love with this team. Tanner Glass has been useless, and Kennedy, while he's been playing a little better as of late, looks confused out there way too often. I'd like to see Shero replace those two with some 3rd and 4th line grit forwards by the deadline. Madden brought up Eric Fehr and Matt Hendricks of the Capitals on his show a few days ago. If the Capitals accept they are out of the playoff race before the deadline, I wouldn't mind Shero making a move to get those two.

 

[PensFanSince1989]

I think last season, for whatever reason, when Sid returned, it threw off the momentum the team had and yeah, this year it's different. The team is gelling a little more right now and with no one coming back all of a sudden or anything like that, I think they will be fine.

The team went on a role when Crosby came back. It was with about 4 to 5 games left that they suffered amnesia and forgot how to play any semblance of defence.

 

[radapex]

As long as they continue trending upward in terms of defense, it's fine. Last year, the team got sloppy during their win streaks and got into bad habits - especially defensively.

 

[eXile59]

Peaked,? Let me tell you something. We haven't even begun to peak. And when we do peak, you’ll know. Because we will peak so hard, that everybody in Pittsburgh will feel it.

 

[#66]

I hope not. Sure the Pens have a good record but a bunch of the wins this season, mostly early on, were sloppy hockey and masking problems. To be honest I haven't been happy with the Pens play until the past week or so.

I don't think any team looks that strong this year... even the Blackhawks. IMO the Cup is ripe for the pickings from the Pens to a team like the Jets.

I'm kind of interested to see how the Pens move along this year. Do they swing for the fences at the deadline or do they bring in some buyouts next year? I'm really, REALLY hoping the Pens don't overpay for anyone this year.

 

[IcedCapp]

they aren't peaking, they're just winning. There's a difference.

Peaking would involve them playing their best hockey at both ends of the rink, and the absence of Geno and recent insertion of Sunshine makes me think we've yet to see this team click on all offensive cylinders, at least in the top-6, and I think we all know this team still has cluster **** potential in its own end.

 

[ColePens]

I hate when people talk about peaking too early in a season. You can never peak too quickly in a 48 game season where every point is needed.

 

[dogthateats]

I don't think they can be peaking with Malkin not even in the lineup. Also, can somebody change the title to too.

 

[Muscles4Malkin]

48 games. You need all points you can get. You need to play well almost whole regular season.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

"Peaking early" reminds me of Chicago this year as well.

 

[Fordy]

Ha. No.

 

[Terrapin]

I don't think we're peaking. We haven't even had Geno for the most part of the last few weeks. And even as well as we've played the last few games, those games were very close, aside from 3rd period outbursts of goals.

What I do worry about is Shero standing pat because we have been winning.

 

[namsnoodle]

Lets no worry about the past, or the future yet. Lets just take care of business now and take things one game at a time.

 

[Darth Vitale]

It's less that we peaked too early last year than our D was suspect even during our hot streak at times, went into the toilet the final week or so of the season against the Islanders, then we never adapted when playing Philly.

What will help us this year is if Shero makes a trade to improve our skill and toughness on both sides of the puck, to compensate for the possibility that Bylsma may still have no alternate gameplan beyond jumbling lines, if things go bad in the playoffs.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I hate when people talk about peaking too early in a season. You can never peak too quickly in a 48 game season where every point is needed.

Especially when plenty of users on here think the team is a joke when they lose a couple. No matter what the team can't get it right.

 

[SEALBound]

When we get Malkin back and the TDL comes and goes...then we will have a better idea. Enjoy the wins. If he go downhill against playoff teams in the last 10 or so games, then we worry.

100% correct about Shero not falling in love with this team. This team is good...but not 16 grueling playoff games won good.

New 3rd and 4th liners and maybe a depth top 6 guy and we'll contend. But...then again...it doesn't really matter...MAF is the one we have to worry about. If he was even average last playoffs...we annihilate Philly.

 

[SirBrad]

Peaking too early is a myth in my opinion.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Yah I'd be curious to see a statistical analysis of teams who won the Cup that had a bit of a nose-dive in the 30 days or so leading up to the playoffs. That would pretty much prove it's a myth. Plus everyone's definition of "peaking" is different. If you win 8 in a row and lose 2 after that, are you no longer "peaking"?