CRANBERRY, Pa. -- These Penguins are in deep doo-doo. They know it. They’re feeling it.
And man, are they ever flailing.
That was very much the vibe, believe me, at the team's almost awkwardly upbeat, up-tempo, 40-minute practice Tuesday afternoon at the Lemieux Sports Complex, one in which coaches were chirping up a storm, players were manufacturing some smiles, and all concerned were ... well, visibly concerned.
"I mean, it's hockey. You've still got to have fun with it, right?" Brian Dumoulin told me afterward. "Even though we're struggling and not winning games ... you can be miserable all you want, but what's that going to do? For me, I'm a positive guy. I'm always trying to be on that side. I try to smile as much as anyone, try to lift guys up."
He took a deep breath.
"It's not easy. Obviously. Guys are upset. But for the most part, that's not going to do us any good."
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