continued from page 191
The deals made the Penguins the odds-on favorite to hoist the Stanley Cup, but Shero was not close to being satisfied. “The team on paper doesn’t matter too much,” Shero said. “We have to do it on the ice.” Each piece contributed to making the Penguins a complete team by the end of the season. Iginla provided veteran grit and even more offensive firepower, Morrow brought a strong net-front presence and leadership, Murray served as a bruising, shutdown defenseman and Jokinen added a skilled, versatile forward that excelled in faceoffs.
SEASON RECAP The Penguins had a remarkable regular season, locking up the Eastern Conference’s top seed with a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on April 20 and earning their first Atlantic Division title since the 2007-08 season. The Pens finished the season with 72 points, on pace for 123 points across a full-82 game schedule, which would have been the highest total in franchise history. After a rocky 3-3 start, Pittsburgh quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the early part of this shortened season. They made a statement within the division by trouncing the New Jersey Devils 5-1 at home on Feb. 2, two days after shutting out the New York Rangers 3-0 in Madison Square Garden. The Penguins battled the Devils at the top of the division through much of the first two months before New Jersey slipped down the standings, while Sidney Crosby returned to form as the best hockey continued on page 194
193