by Rob Rossi , Pittsburgh Tribune Review

After being shoved into the end boards by Red Wings winger Tomas Holmstrom, Orpik covered a loose puck behind the net guarded by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and stayed atop it until a whistle stopped play with only 6.5 seconds remaining in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Orpik's action afforded coach Dan Bylsma an opportunity to deploy his best defensive forwards and shutdown blueline pairing against Detroit's six best offensive players for a championship-or-bust sequence.

That blueline pairing of Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill each signed free-agent deals elsewhere this summer, but returning defenseman Mark Eaton believes a reason the Penguins can thrive this season despite the losses is found in the example of Orpik's Game 7 covering of the puck.

"We're a pretty smart group," Eaton said of the six players who will comprise the Penguins' defense corps when the regular season opens against the New York Rangers on Friday at Mellon Arena. "I look for us to be even better this year."

Yes, even without Scuderi and Gill, a unit pitted against top forward lines throughout the 2009 playoffs, the Penguins should expect more from their defense this season, for the following reasons:

? Top defenseman Sergei Gonchar is healthy and motivated. He didn't play until Feb. 14 last season because of reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder following an injury in the club's first preseason game. Gonchar recorded 19 points in 25 games to close the regular season, and the Penguins went 17-4-4 in those contests. Also, Gonchar is in the final year of his contract and appears intent on proving that, at 35, he remains worthy of $5 million annually.

? Third-year defenseman Kris Letang, who paced Penguins defensemen with 33 points last season, averaged more than 21 minutes per contest during the regular season and more than 19 in the playoffs when Gonchar had reclaimed his No. 1 spot. Letang's 13 playoff points were second only to Gonchar among Penguins defensemen, and his confidence ? always an issue despite his cocksure demeanor ? appeared to grow with each series. He is also playing for a new contract; Letang can become a restricted free agent after the season, and he is seeking a long-term extension at more than $3.5 million per season.

? Second-year defenseman and third-year pro Alex Goligoski carried into training camp the maturity that allowed him to handle being thrown into the fire last season because of Gonchar's injury. Not expected to earn a roster spot out of 2008 camp, Goligoski averaged more than 18 minutes in 45 regular-season games and was demoted to the American Hockey League upon Gonchar's return only because his contract was two-way. Goligoski recorded 20 points, 14 on the power play, and trends for the high 40s this season.

? Eaton played his first healthy season with the Penguins , re-establishing himself as a top shot-blocker and steady hand as the season progressed. In the playoffs, he flashed some of the opportunistic offensive traits that once helped him post a 12-goal collegiate season at Notre Dame. Eaton's four playoff goals were tied for most among Penguins defensemen.

? Orpik, reteamed with Gonchar on the top unit for the playoffs, registered more than 100 postseason hits and progressed toward becoming the No. 2 defensive complement the Penguins envisioned when re-signing him at $3.75 million annually two years ago.

? Veteran defenseman Jay McKee, a noted shot-blocker, was brought on to help offset the loss of Scuderi.

Coaches acknowledge the Penguins are not as deep as they were last season, when during the playoffs since-retired veteran Philippe Boucher and Goligoski were their extras, as opposed to Nate Guenin and Deryk Engellend this season. However, Bylsma's uptempo style is perfectly suited for the talents of Gonchar, Letang and Goligoski, and McKee has quickly grasped the system, which emphasizes quick puck retrieval and movement up ice.

Gonchar, as always, remains the key cog.

"He has a calming influence on everybody," Orpik said. "People can talk about our losses on defense, but they should remember who we're getting back for the whole year."

Power of three

In Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski, the Penguins believe they possess a potentially lethal 1-2-3 attack of offensive defenseman. Those players combined for 72 points last season, though Gonchar appeared in only 25 games because of a left shoulder injury and Goligoski played just 45 as a rookie. A recap of the top scoring team trios of defensemen from 2008-09:

Team: Players/Total points

Red Wings: Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall/169

Sharks: Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Christian Ehrhoff/144

Oilers: Sheldon Souray, Tom Gilbert, Denis Grebeshkov/137

Blackhawks: Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith, Cam Barker/136

Bruins: Zdeno Chara, Dennis Wideman, Matt Hunwick/127

Ducks: Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Steve Montador/127

Notable: The Penguins trio ranked 28 of 30 NHL clubs.

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