The problem of the Pens is their defence. Their only star at the blue line is Letang, who was out for most of the season and is more of an offensive player. They need a stay at home defencemen. Scuderi and Orpik are too slow.
It used to be the goalers that were the most important player in the playoffs. Now I think it's defencemen. I mean look at the team still in the playoffs :
Wild : Sutter
Blackhawks : Seabrook and Keith
LA : Doughty
Habs : Subban and Markov
Boston : Chara, Hamilton, Krug
Rangers : Mcdonagh, Girardi
Anaheim : Fowler and Beauchemin
You can't win in this league anymore without a star defenceman that excel at both ends of the rink.
*Just imagine if the Habs didn't trade Mcdonagh to the Rangers for Gomez. Stupid trade by Bob Gainey.