from Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Is it just me or are we giving too much of a pass to a team that is living off its Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017?

Those championships were incredible, but they seem like a lifetime ago.

The Penguins missed the playoffs last season for the first time in 17 years. No big deal, right? That impressive streak wasn’t going to last forever. But how about the previous four seasons when the Penguins were eliminated in the first round? Their record in those four series was 6-15.

Yes, awful.

I would have made a lot of money the past five seasons if I had violated my No. 1 rule when it comes to the Penguins:

Never bet against Sid and Sully.

I still have a hard time betting against Sidney Crosby and Mike Sullivan. Crosby is one of the five greatest players of all-time. Sullivan is a Hall of Fame-caliber coach. I can’t respect a coach or a player more.

But the two — especially Crosby — are running out of time for their team to be a legitimate Cup contender.

This season has to be their last, best chance.

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