$5 Things We\'ve Learned From the Pittsburgh Penguins\' Early-Season Action$

5 Things We've Learned From the Pittsburgh Penguins' Early-Season Action

By Darrell Samuels

5 Things We've Learned From the Pittsburgh Penguins' Early-Season Action

Kessel-Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins — Without a doubt, the Pittsburgh Penguins' trade this summer to acquire Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs took the league by surprise. Pittsburgh thought that adding Kessel to the lineup to work with superstars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby would equal instant success. However, the Penguins have started the season losing their first three games. Here are some observations on the early-season action of this hockey club.

5. Kris Letang Appears To Be the 'Comeback Kid' Again

Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

5. Kris Letang Appears To Be the 'Comeback Kid' Again

Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins — Letang has had a string of bad luck over the past couple of seasons. During the 2013-14 campaign, he finished the season with 22 points in 37 games before suffering a stroke. He returned last season and finished with 54 points in 69 games. He scored a goal against the Montreal Canadiens and appears to have elevated his game back to the level it was before the stroke.

4. Mike Johnston Needs To Turn Things Around Soon

Mike Johnston, Pittsburgh Penguins

4. Mike Johnston Needs To Turn Things Around Soon

Mike Johnston, Pittsburgh Penguins — Penguins head coach Johnston has to turn this around fast or he could be unemployed soon. Expectations were extremely high for the franchise, and while there are still 79 games to play, the Eastern Conference is extremely competitive. If they wait too long and have prolonged losing streaks, their season might be too difficult to recover from and get back into playoff consideration.

3. Marc-Andre Fleury Must Cut Down His Goals Against

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Marc-Andre Fleury Must Cut Down His Goals Against

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins — If the Pittsburgh Penguins have any aspirations of winning a Stanley Cup, Fleury has to cut down on his goals against. He has started all three games for the team against the Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes and the Montreal Canadiens and has surrendered eight goals total.

2. Evgeni Malkin Needs To Get Scoring

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

2. Evgeni Malkin Needs To Get Scoring

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins — The storyline surrounding this franchise all season will be watching to see how fast Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel connect and work together. Malkin only has one assist along with Kessel, setting up a Kris Letang goal. Malkin has played with Crosby before on the power play and worked magic together. The team's management needs to figure out who Malkin works better with.

1. Sidney Crosby Not Meshing Well With Phil Kessel

Pittsburgh Penguins v New Jersey Devils

1. Sidney Crosby Not Meshing Well With Phil Kessel

Pittsburgh Penguins v New Jersey Devils — The face of the NHL, Sidney Crosby, was drafted by the team in 2005 and has tasted a lot of early success in his career. However, adding Kessel with Crosby and playing together on the top line doesn't appear to be working. Three games into the season, Crosby has zero points and Kessel has two points, a goal and an assist.

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Pittsburgh Penguins

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