Pens - Flyers: Entering pivotal Game 3, Pens clearly have a "mindset problem"

On the brink of falling down 0-3, we'll find out a lot about the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey club this afternoon when the puck drops at 3:08 p.m.

NISKANEN TO RETURN?

The Latest on Matt Niskanen's availability for Game 3.... Read More

For the past couple weeks, even after wins, a common theme coming out of the Penguins locker room has been frustrations among key players about the Penguins looking to "out-score teams than out-defend". All the frustrations from players though, has just been lip service as it's defensive breakdown after defensive breakdown for the Penguins with the same issues being there on a nightly basis.

The Penguins are giving up 4.2 goals against in their last nine games, and some of it's personnel but the big issue according to at least one scout I spoke with this weekend is the Penguins "mindset".

"They clearly have a mindset problem, " an NHL source said. "It's in their identity to push the play in transition and {that} can be dangerous hockey when you're [continuously] looking for that long {or stretch pass} pass through the neutral zone against Philadelphia that can come right back at you."

"Ken Hitchcock isn't coming through that door, " the source added, when asked if it's feasible for a coaching staff to suddenly revamp their system to a more defensive structure on such a short span in between games and whether he expects the Penguins coaching staff to go away from their offensive attacking style (that they believe in) and decide to tighten things up. "A coach trying to go away from what he believes [system] in.... it just leads to trouble, " the source said mentioning Bruce Boudreau in Washington as an example.