The parallel with 2009, the last time the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, is striking.
The Penguins of that year (2008-09) fired their coach during the regular season, replacing Michel Therrien with Dan Bylsma. The Pens were said to have an unhappy superstar in Sidney Crosby, who had underachieved to that point. Under Bylsma, Crosby instantly appeared rejuvenated and Pittsburgh won the Cup.
Here the Penguins are again, in the Final, after Thursday night's 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final at Consol Energy Center. They are a team that fired its coach, Mike Johnston, in December despite a 15-10-3 record.