The narrative surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins at this time of the season has become dependable but also dependably tired: The talent exists, but do they have what it takes to get it done in the playoffs?
For the past six seasons, in and around March, the Penguins have been counted as a Stanley Cup possibility, but not a serious threat. It would be ridiculous to write them off completely, solely because of their stockpile of talent, but it has become second nature to doubt their playoff chances in large part because of their record since they won the Stanley Cup in 2009, they have made it past the second round of the playoffs just once—and even then they were quickly swept by the Boston…
