Sean Kilpatrick / AP file

A pair of new wingers have made Penguins center Sidney Crosby even a more dangerous offensive threat, writes Bill Clement of NBCSports.com.

The power play has not been good for the Penguins this season, ranking in the bottom third of the league. But of late, it’s starting to show signs of life. Sergei Gonchar, who missed the first 56 games of the season after September shoulder surgery, is looking good, and Crosby is the prime beneficiary of that.

With Gonchar on the power play, more creative play occurs from the blue line, and more shots get through to the net. Also, Gonchar is another tremendous option in the passing sequence. Something creative, good, and productive usually happens when Gonchar is involved in the play. The play doesn’t die on his stick. It comes alive on his stick.

What I see in Pittsburgh is a happy team under Bylsma. The Penguins are enjoying playing hockey given the much-different approach of Bylsma to that of Therrien.

It’s no secret Therrien lived by the whip, and Bylsma is far more new school than old school in the sense he’s a communicator, and he’s very specific about everything he requires of his players, but he doesn’t necessarily lead with the whip and the caustic tongue.

The expectations for the Penguins this season are to win the Stanley Cup because they went to the finals and failed last year. Players are smart. They know when they have a chance to win it all. And the Penguins knew that for most of this season they were farther from their goal than they were last year. Now that’s changed.

Pittsburgh has its sights clearly set on the fourth seed in the East, but that’s not indicative of how good the Penguins are. Had they had Kunitz and Guerin all season, had they not lost Gonchar for so long, and had they had goalie Marc-Andre Fleury playing at the level he is now, winning their division and grabbing a top three seed would have been well within reach.

But don’t confuse Pittsburgh’s seeding with the power of the Penguins to make a deep playoff run, possibly getting back to the finals and winning the Stanley Cup. Staying healthy will be the biggest key in capturing a wide-open Eastern Conference.

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Biting back

PHT: After coming back home in an 0-2 hole, the Sharks are now even with the Kings after holding on to win Game 4 Tuesday night.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Sharks even series with Kings

  The San Jose Sharks capitalized on their scoring chances in the first period and the early part of the second period in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. After falling behind by two goals, the Kings almost cut the lead in half in the second period, but the referee blew the play dead as the puck was about to cross the goal line. The series is now tied at two.

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