With recent trouble for the Pittsburgh Penguins in New York, fans are starting to question if the Penguins are a Stanley Cup contending team. It was a surprise for fans citywide after losing to the New York Rangers 8-4, a bottom 3 team in the east division.

With inconsistencies in the team as well as endless injuries, will they have a shot at the Stanley Cup?

Injuries seem to be the biggest problem with the team, especially with key players being out. Evgeni Malkin, Kasperi Kapanen, Brandon Tanev, and Teddy Blueger are just a few of the essential parts of the team that help bring the Penguins together, completing needed chemistry to the team.

Malkin and Kapanen were just starting to heat up and complement each other’s play styles, so it will depend if they start back up where they left off. For this team to do well, other less-known players need to step up their game.

The Penguins 4^th line has been strong recently, again with the injuries having to move players up from the AHL. People like Radim Zohorna, a 6’6 power forward, are examples of this with 3 points in 2 games played. With so many people missing, everyone needs to do their part.

The Penguins might also have to bank on other teams’ misfortune to get in the playoffs. Currently, they are in 3^rd place in the east division, with the Boston Bruins only 4 points behind with 3 fewer games played.

The Philadelphia Flyers as well as the New York Rangers have identical records and are 6 points behind the Bruins. The Penguins got hot in March, with a 12-3-1 record but they are going to need another streak in April if they want to bury the other teams before they have a chance in the playoffs.

So will the Penguins make it? At their current pace, it is very likely, but only time will tell.