George here on the late shift, with an eyebrow raised given USA Today's Kevin Allen's bluntness in questioning the Pittsburgh Penguins' ability to show composure when playoff series are on the line:

The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins both need to win one game today to reach their respective conference finals, yet the teams are in stunningly different places in how the hockey world perceives them.

We expect the Blackhawks to find a way to win, because they have done that consistently for the last five springs.

We have no idea what to expect from the Penguins, because their playoff performances have been inconsistent over the last five springs.

If the Penguins want to see what their team could be like — or should be like — they need only to look across the conference divide and watch the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are not a perfect team, but they seem to possess the necessary survival skills that allow them to wiggle their way out of bear traps.

Allen continues...