PITTSBURGH _ After 50 games and about four straight months of hockey, it's time for the Penguins to take a break _ and a well-deserved one.
All-Star weekend and a bye week will give the team about 10 days of rest between games, the longest significant stretch away from the ice this season. While this off time isn't exactly the midpoint, it does create a natural pause to step back and evaluate where the team has been _ and where it's going.
The Penguins (31-14-5) currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division. With 67 points, they trail only the Washington Capitals (71 points). The Penguins also carry the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind the Capitals and Boston Bruins (70 points).
So how will the final 32 games unfold? These five questions will help tell the story.
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Will the power play ever break out?
For years, the Penguins boasted one of the league's most efficient power-play units. Last season, they converted on 24.6% of their opportunities (fifth-best in the league). In 2017-18, they were first in the league (26.1%). And in 2016-17, they ranked third (23.1%).
Entering this year, the Penguins knew something would change with the man-advantage after longtime mainstay Phil Kessel was traded to Arizona. What they couldn't have predicted was that literally every single member of the top power play unit would be forced to miss an extended period of time, including Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Patric Hornqvist, Justin Schultz and now Jake Guentzel.
Currently, the Penguins have scored goals on 19.6% of their power-play opportunities, which ranks 16th in the league. So, basically, the potent power play has become an average one. With Crosby back after eight weeks on injured reserve and Schultz expected to return as early as Jan. 31, there's reason for optimism.
It stands to reason that Crosby's playmaking, vision and creativity will improve the power play. But how much?
