Pens’ last dance?

Quick exit could lead to roster shake-up

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ firstround playoff matchup against the New York Rangers also could be viewed as a battle to keep the band together.

There’s growing concern in Pittsburgh that the window for being a Stanley Cup contender is closing. After the injury-plagued Penguins needed a win on the last day to squeeze into the playoffs, this series against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers is viewed as a referendum on the roster’s future.

With a lineup that includes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the team’s top two offensive players, the Penguins should have been a hunter, not the hunted, during the stretch drive.

Unquestionably, injuries are the primary reason the Penguins are where they are today. Key defenseman Olli Maatta and top-six forward Pascal Dupuis were lost for the season, and in the closing weeks they had to play with a junior varsity defense because Kris Letang, Christian Ehrhoff and Derrick Pouliot were hurt. Malkin also is playing hurt.

“Last year, and even previous, we’ve had guys injured, and it seems like a lot of key guys,” Penguins defenseman Paul Martin said. “It’s finding ways to win and guys elevating their games and young guys showing what they can do. You hope that adversity makes us better.”

This season has raised concerns about whether the team has the sparkle and magic of the early years of Crosby and Malkin.

When the injuries mounted, the Penguins’ problems became clearer. This isn’t the dynamic scoring team it once was. Chris Kunitz, 35, lost his scoring touch in the second half, and the trade for David Perron didn’t work out, as he faded after a fast start.

General manager Jim Rutherford was hired to make this team more playoff ready, and he pulled plenty of levers. The Penguins were pleased with his trade of James Neal for Patric Hornqvist.

But Rutherford can’t be sure what he has because so many players have been hurt. Early in the season, before the injuries took their toll, the Penguins had a solid record. Down the stretch, though, they had trouble scoring.

Since the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, they have gone 4-5 in playoff series.

“For a while they wanted to blame the goalie, and then their goalie was good and they still didn’t win,” said former Penguins coach Ed Olczyk, an NBC analyst. “Then they only scored two goals in four games against Boston (in 2013). So it’s the coach’s fault. At some point, you have to look a little deeper.”

GM Ray Shero and coach Dan Bylsma were fired last summer after the Penguins blew a 3-1 series lead against the Rangers. This season’s Penguins could be an easier out. If they lose without a major fight, it could mean another round of major changes.

Crosby and Malkin averaged better than a point a game. Would the team consider asking one to accept a trade?

“I don’t think you could have thought that five years ago,” Olczyk said. “But when you continue to underachieve and not win and not do what they are expected to do, with the payroll they have, then it’s not working.”

Malkin would have high trade value. Pittsburgh doesn’t have many other assets to deal.

Six years have passed since the Penguins’ Cup. That team’s GM and coach are gone. Now it could be top players’ turn to pay a price.

If the players don’t like that scenario, they have the power to do something about it. They could use this stage against an exceptional Rangers team to show they can still rock and roll. That’s how you keep the band together.