Mark Madden: They have shortcomings, but Penguins don't lack effort

The Penguins might cheat you when it comes to certain things.

They might cheat you on structure. They might cheat you on goaltending. Evgeni Malkin is cheating you on production. The cataclysmically injured defense corps is getting cheated on luck.

But the Penguins are not cheating you when it comes to effort.

You see it on Twitter, with every team, when that team trails, and the Penguins are no exception: “These guys need to try harder!”

But the Penguins couldn’t possibly try harder.

The Penguins have trailed in the third period of their last three victories.

They were tied after two periods in their other two wins.

They’re 4-1 when the game goes beyond the regulation 60 minutes.

The Penguins fight to the end. They are heroic in the clumsiest of fashions. They dig holes but keep climbing out. They create their own problems, then (mostly) solve them.

That’s the slipperiest of slopes. But for now, it will have to do.

The Penguins stumbled upon a useful formula at the end of Saturday’s 5-4 win over the host New York Rangers: After Jake Guentzel scored with 10:42 left in the third period, they played smart, disciplined systematic hockey for the remainder of regulation. They weren’t conservative to the point of cowardice, nor adventurous to the point of stupidity.

They made sure of getting a point, then Sidney Crosby won the game in overtime.

Perhaps they got shocked into playing like that because Kris Letang left the game hurt, further crippling their busted-up defense. Maybe they finally realized they’re not as fast as they used to be, and think they still are. It could have been coincidence, or an accident.

But that’s how the Penguins need to play all the time.

If the Penguins play buttoned-up and close to the vest, their individual talent will shine through just enough to win lots of games. Like Saturday: Enter Crosby.

But if they try to flaunt their superiority by playing the wide-open style that won championships in 2016 and ’17, well … the Penguins aren’t that superior now. They’re 0-3-1 against Boston and Philadelphia, the class of the East division.

The Penguins have provided a few discussion points:

• Rookie defenseman P.O Joseph went from the taxi squad to the top pair in a week. Much of that was dictated by injury, but he has more than earned his keep. He is plus-4 with four assists in five games. His style has skill, speed and elegance. He can hit a stretch pass.

If Joseph keeps playing like this, he has to stay in the lineup when all the defensemen are healthy. Unless he doesn’t. A spot would have to be opened. Marcus Pettersson would be easier to deal and bring more return than Mike Matheson. Problem is, you need a GM to make trades.

• The Penguins have the NHL’s worst goaltending. The numbers don’t lie, and they spell disaster for you at Sacrifice. Some of that can be blamed on bad structure and the injuries on defense. More can be blamed on not stopping the puck.

Tristan Jarry’s relaxed attitude is often cited as a positive. Or maybe Jarry isn’t intense enough to be a No. 1 goaltender. You never know until a goalie is in that position.

Two of Matt Murray’s primary flaws were playing too deep in the net and ineffective stick work. Now we see the same from Jarry. He still handles the puck OK, but failure to poke-check when the puck is near the blue paint costs him. When the same weaknesses are prevalent in a team’s goalies, it’s fair to wonder about the work of goaltending coach Mike Buckley.

• The Penguins’ championship window is closed. But the organization doesn’t believe that. That means a ready-made, experienced GM will likely be hired to replace Jim Rutherford. Think Rutherford in 2014, not Ray Shero in 2006. Think Ron Hextall or Dale Tallon, not Colorado assistant GM Chris McFarland or any of the assistant GMs interested.

The best choice (if the Penguins want to wait) is New Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald, a former assistant GM in Pittsburgh under Rutherford. His contract expires in June, but the Devils could extend him. Waiting to see would mean a long “interim” stretch for Patrik Allvin.

Fitzgerald, Minnesota GM Bill Guerin and Seattle assistant GM Jason Botterill were once queued up in the Penguins’ front office, waiting to succeed Rutherford. Not anymore.

• A bunch of Canadian media blowhards pontificated about the possibility of Crosby leaving the Penguins this coming offseason and playing for a Canadian team, something those dorks have tried to wish into happening since 2005. Twitter inflated such speculation into possibility, which was the idea all along: To spark a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It’s impossible to say 100% that it won’t happen, but Crosby never has made the slightest noise about leaving.

Furthermore, if Crosby ever does, the Penguins shouldn’t listen. The most affordable years of his 12-year contract are coming up: Crosby will make just $3 million per year from 2022-25. The Penguins may not contend then but still need to sell tickets.

Athletes are employees. It’s about what the team needs, not what the player wants. A contract is a contract.