Reversal of fortune
After slow start to season, Pens found identity, direction
“We would get frustrated early on in the year. We would get scored on and the whole team would just tank and be done for the game,” defenseman Ian Cole said. “I think we really learned a lot of hard lessons in those times when we were floundering. We were, ‘We're a great team. Everyone knows it, but how do we figure it out?'?”
It took a coaching change and some significant roster changes to turn around a season that was circling the drain. In those dark days before and just after Mike Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston as their coach Dec. 12, the Penguins couldn't have imagined being in the position they were Thursday — the Stanley Cup in the house at Consol Energy Center and one victory away from the franchise's fourth Cup championship.
“If you asked us then would we be here, a lot of guys would have been like, ‘No,'?” Cole said Wednesday. “A lot of guys still had faith we would make the playoffs when we were out of the playoff picture. We had to go through some hard times to figure out how to do it, and I think we're better for it.”
It didn't happen right away. They lost their first four games after Sullivan took over but his commanding presence and persuasive voice, reinforced by infusions of speed through trades and call-ups from their farm team, transformed the Penguins into a powerful force.
“It seems like it was a long ways away. It seems like an entirely different season,” center Matt Cullen said of the slow start.
They were 33-16-5 under Sullivan, including wins in 14 of their last 16 regular-season games. Their speed and cohesive defensive play have been great assets in the playoffs.
Still, the Penguins weren't taking their dramatic turnaround for granted.
“I don't think you ever arrive. We can always improve,” Sullivan said. “I think it's that insatiable appetite to improve that has allowed this team to get to the point where it's at.
“We're going to keep pushing until we achieve our ultimate goal.”
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