The Pittsburgh Penguins have the fifth-best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference and the third-best goal differential. As the NHL season screeched to a halt, making way for the grand spectacle of the Milan Winter Olympics on a short ice surface, the Penguins have played 56 games and have an 85.5% chance to make the playoffs.

In other words, they are winning games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have kept pace with the Penguins as each team reeled off wins, unlike at any point in the last few years for either team. The Penguins hit the Olympic break on a 13-3-3 run. Columbus won 11 of 12.

Yet the Penguins have an important five-point lead on Columbus, which is the first team out of the playoff seedings, for a postseason spot. The Penguins’ impressive run also put them in league with the Atlantic Division teams for a wild-card spot, if one became necessary.

The state of the Penguins is strong.

First, they are for real.

There is nothing phony, temporary, or unearned with the Penguins. In fact, through their worst stretch of the season, a 10-game winless streak, they led after 50 minutes in four of those games, and earned a loser point in five of them.

For a few moments, the Penguins were a jittery mess with a third period lead, expecting the worst and manifesting their destiny like an Instagram influencer.

And then, something changed. In multiple conversations over several days in the locker room, it became obvious. The Penguins got angry at themselves instead of nervous. They decided they had lost enough games and, through a somewhat stunning force of will, simply changed their mindset.

They were mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

The Penguins won games through January and into February with few blown leads. They struggled to close against the New York Islanders in the penultimate game before the break, but slammed the door on the Buffalo Sabres two days later.

Second, the coach.

PHN noted last summer in our profiles of the new assistants that there was a common thread and theme. From Todd Nelson to Mike Stothers and goalie coach Andy Chiodo, positivity abounds.

It’s not the faked rah rah sort of cheerleading that wears on athletes, but encouragement and an atmosphere where support provides space for players to reach previously unreached levels of their game.

The coaching dynamic follows in lock step with general manager Kyle Dubas’s stated desire to make the Penguins a destination franchise for players wanting a second chance or greater opportunity.

Beginning with coach Dan Muse, a noted rink rat who lives and breathes the game, and the assistants, the fresh environment provided the kindling for numerous players, including Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon, Connor Dewar, and more, to submit career years.

We went further in-depth on Muse as players talked on the record and anonymously about Muse’s impact last month.

Third, Malkin.

Evgeni Malkin has been a better player at both ends of the rink. Even before the arrival of fellow Russian Egor Chinakhov, Malkin was rediscovering his galloping skating stride.

In 41 games, Malkin has 44 points (13-31-44). And no, not many saw that coming from the 39-year-old who labored through last season.

Malkin raced from the starting gates with linemates Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. PHN wondered aloud if that was a poor line construction given the lack of speed and physicality, but the trio filled the net.

Only injuries have slowed Malkin this season.

Fourth, De-Fense.

At the risk of bringing up bad memories, recall how genuinely terrible the Penguins’ defensive concept could become over the past few seasons. It varied between disorganized kindergarten recess projects and apathetic movements in the moments after a Grateful Dead concert.

The team is 10th overall in goals allowed.

Not only has Muse unleashed Erik Karlsson, but the better play from Shea and Wotherspoon has buttressed a surprisingly competent defense that could have been abjectly terrible.

The team is also ninth in percentage of points by defensemen.

What looked like an abyss has become a point of competency.

Lastly, Big Moe.

Not momentum, not big mo. Anthony Mantha (nicknamed Moe) already has 20 goal, and has scored independently of which center he’s playing with.

“I think his game has continued to evolve over the course of the year … I think he’s taken strides on both sides of the puck,” Muse said. “For a guy his size, he’s able to be a real threat, whether it’s off the rush or in zone.

“He’s also moving really well.”

Regardless of playing with Malkin, Tommy Novak, or Ben Kindel, and regardless of the winger on the opposite side, Mantha has provided necessary secondary scoring deep in the lineup.

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