Paul Bissonnette

Special for USA TODAY Sports

Paul Bissonnette, an NHL veteran of 202 games, is an engaging social media presence (with more than 700,000 Twitter followers) who has a thoughtful and unique perspective on the game. He plays for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. Bissonnette will be contributing columns to USA TODAY Sports during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. —

As I watch the Pittsburgh Penguins make their impressive run in these playoffs, I only have to wiggle my thumb to vividly recall that I was in the Penguins organization the last time they won the Stanley Cup in 2009.

I only have 10% feeling in the palm area of that thumb as a result of a scary cut suffered playing for the Pens’ farm team that season.

That season I was called up for 26 Penguins games and played in 15. But I was up long enough to notice similarities between this season’s Penguins and the Penguins that won the Cup then.

In 2008-09, the team struggled early and Michel Therrien was fired and replaced by energetic Dan Bylsma, who had been the coach of the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate Wilkes-Barre team. This season, the Penguins also weren’t sharp early, and Mike Johnston was replaced by Wilkes-Barre coach Mike Sullivan.

In 2008-09, the in-season acquisition of Bill Guerin made a difference. This season, the additions of Trevor Daley and Carl Hagelin have paid off.

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Back then, the Penguins unified in the second half of the season, just like this season’s Penguins.

Even the Penguins’ playoff path feels similar. The Washington Capitals were in the way in 2009, and the Penguins won a Game 7. This season, the Penguins took down the Capitals in six games.

Ovechkin was an obstacle in 2009 and now. I feel bad for Ovechkin because I’ve never believed the playoff losses were his fault. He has been a victim of circumstance.

The talk about this edition of the Penguins is that they have exceptional chemistry. That was also true in 2008-09.

Guerin was a great teammate, and was really nice to me. Hal Gill was the funniest teammate I’ve ever known. Rob Scuderi was a quality man.

The approach to the game has changed dramatically since the Penguins last won in 2009. For example, Guerin and Gill were the last guys I can remember ever drinking beer in the dressing room after a game. They used to have a six-pack waiting for them.

Today, players drink protein shakes after a game.

I remember Marc-Andre Fleury being a popular player in the dressing room. I thought about that as I read the debate about whether he should have been given the opportunity to become the team’s starter after he recovered from his concussion.

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As much as I liked Fleury when I was there, I felt Sullivan made the right call when he kept rookie Matt Murray as the starting goalie.

If you are a player, and you see a goalie playing as well as Murray, you don’t want to make a change. As a general rule, players don’t like change when a team is playing well.

Also the younger players on this team, all of whom are making contributions, have a confidence in Murray that comes from knowing him from Wilkes-Barre.

As much as the veterans respect Fleury, they also know that goaltending is a unique position. You can’t be sure where his game is at after the layoff. He hasn't played since March 31.

Players are stubborn and they say they are 100% even when they may not be. As much as Fleury wants to play, he is a good team guy. He understands why Murray had to continue to play.

I believe the Penguins have a great chance of duplicating the Stanley Cup run they made in 2009. But I also feel that the Lightning aren't getting the respect they deserve.