Biggest change of watching the early season

[MWB]

When the Pens give up the first goal it's no longer a given that they will lose. Or, if they have a lead and lose it, it's no longer a given that they will lose. Last year when either of these things happened it was, "Here we go again, another long night." It's such a huge change not feeling completely deflated watching them give up a lead, and great watching them retake the lead.

[penny lane]

Marc-Andre Fleury being able to turn aside an early goal and settle
down and make the 2nd/3rd saves has been great to watch.
You can see Fleury being resolved in making the saves. He's
growing up and becoming serious in his play.

[Corban87]

When the Pens give up the first goal it's no longer a given that they will lose. Or, if they have a lead and lose it, it's no longer a given that they will lose. Last year when either of these things happened it was, "Here we go again, another long night." It's such a huge change not feeling completely deflated watching them give up a lead, and great watching them retake the lead.

Such a nice thing! I was just talking about that to a fellow co-worker.

[Defence21]

Excellent point. And while its possible that Mario's "zero-effort" leadership may have been the problem in recent years, I highly doubt it was the priamry issue -- afterall, he rarely played the majority of a season, let alone half of it since his return. The more liekly reason, in my opinion, is that the team has motivation and confidence from the top, meaning Ray Shero.

He has brought in capable players, energy players, and player looking to porve themselves. It also doesn't hurt that they actually have a few extremely talented young forwards who are young out out to prove themselves as two of the best in the game.

I'll tell you what, I haven't been this excited to watch a stretch of Penguins games in a long time. Regardless of their opponent, there's always a feeling that they can win -- and if they don't, they'll at least try until the game ends.

[MWB]

When the Pens give up the first goal it's no longer a given that they will lose. Or, if they have a lead and lose it, it's no longer a given that they will lose. Last year when either of these things happened it was, "Here we go again, another long night." It's such a huge change not feeling completely deflated watching them give up a lead, and great watching them retake the lead.

Because it is clearly Sid's team now, the zero effort leader Mario is out of the picture

Awesome! That's just what I wanted, this to turn into a Mario-bashing thread. Mission accomplished.