Penguins 3, Rangers 1

So what happened?

The Pens had a relatively easy win tonight over the Rangers, who didn't look ready to play during the first two periods of the game. They were lucky to be down by only two when the third period started. By the time they turned it on, it was too late, because the Pens were up to the challenge of stopping them.

Top to bottom, this was an excellent road win. Tight play, great penalty killing, great work ethic and great goaltending.

Who scored?

Talbot (5), Letang (5), Conner (2)

The Good?

• The PK gets the gold star of the night with two HUGE kills during the third period.
• Flower was excellent again, allowing only a laser beam by Gaborik to beat him.
• The defense was solid around Fleury, clearing several pucks out of harm's way.
• The third line of Conner, Letestu and Kennedy has been excellent. They're not really playing the typical "shutdown" role that we're used to seeing when it was Staal and Cooke out there, but they're generating offensive pressure consistently.
• Sid was 14-5 on faceoffs. That's an incredible number, just like the last time these two teams met.
• Kennedy answered the bell with Sean Avery after Avery took a few liberties with Sid and Geno. That's one of the things that TK does really well.

The Bad?

• Steigerwald - "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night" - sung on live TV. That is about as bad as it gets.
• The ice was tilting against the Pens in the third. Ideally, you'd like to see them be able to keep the intensity and push back a little bit... but they didn't allow a goal, so you can't really complain too much.

The Ugly?

• The Rangers on Talbot's goal. It was like the Keystone Cops - Girardi caught the puck and dropped it towards his own net, not seeing Marc Staal. Staal stepped over the puck, cutting off Girardi, allowing Talbot to wrist it past an unprepared Lundqvist. Pretty ugly.

Any Surprises?

• The Pens lost the overall faceoff battle, despite Sid's amazing numbers (28-26)

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 16-8-2. They are tied with the Flyers for the Atlantic division lead, and just two points behind the Caps for the NHL lead.

Who's next?

A few days off until the Thrashers come to town on Thursday.

Game #26 - at New York Rangers

Game 26

Penguins (15-8-2, 32 points) at Rangers (14-10-1, 29 points)

Why does it matter?
The last loss the Pens suffered this season was at the hands of the Rangers two weeks ago. This is a chance to avenge that loss, as well as earn two points in a divisional match up.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - 9-1-1 in their past 11 games. Things have been going great for the Pens, led by Sid and Fleury.
• Rangers - They've won four out of five, and Lundqvist is in a zone. He has stopped 69 of the previous 70 shots he has faced.

Questions to be answered

• Can Flower get back into the swing of things after getting a game off?
• Can the Pens beat on Lundqvist? They've had some decent success against him recently (he has won just 2 of the previous 9 against the Pens).
• Can the Pens exploit the Rangers' PK like Tampa did last Wednesday when they lit the lamp three times with the man-advantage?

Keys to the game

• Ignore Sean Avery.
• Keep the effort level high. Players like Dubinsky and Staal don't quit... ever.
• Be disciplined in your own zone. The Rangers have speed and like to forecheck. Make sure to do the simple things and get the puck out.

Penguins 4, Flames 1

So what happened?

Missed another one. The holidays wreak havoc on the viewing schedule.

Nice to see Sid with the hat trick and Johnson with a solid performance in net.

Also nice to see the Pens throw another 40+ shots at the opposition.

Who scored?

Asham (3), Crosby 3 (16,17,18)

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 15-8-2. With the Flyers' loss last night, the Pens are now just two points out of first place in the Atlantic

Who's next?

A trip to MSG with a chance to avenge one of the worst losses of the year on Monday night.

Game #25 - vs Calgary Flames

Game 25

Penguins (14-8-2, 30 points) at Flames (9-11-2, 20 points)

Why does it matter?
The Flames are another team that has been pretty bad so far this season. Since a 6-3 start, they are 3-8-2. The Pens have another golden chance at two points against what looks to be an inferior opponent. Make hay while the sun shines - the schedule won't be as favorable later in the season.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - 8-1-1 in their past 9 games. Yesterday saw a nice win over the Sens, with some great goaltending all around.
• Flames - Just three wins in the month of November, but one of those was yesterday in Philly. Beating the Flyers was something we can be thankful for to the Flames.

Questions to be answered

• Does Johnson play today?
• How can the Flames be this bad? They have a great goaltender and lots of offense in their lineup.
• Can we keep Olli bottled up? He always seems to play well against the Pens, and he's struggling so far this year.

Keys to the game

• Draw penalties and get onto the power play. That's the best recipe for beating Kiprusoff, and the PK of the Flames can be had.
• Match up well. The Flames can load up a top line better than most opponents, with Iginla leading the way. Expect a healthy dose of Michalek against Iginla.
• Let Iginla sleep. He has had a slow start to the season. Don't provoke him.

Penguins 2, Senators 1

So what happened?

Who saw this coming? The Pens and Sens combined for 84 shots (44 by the Pens) and the goaltenders stood up to the challenge. The Pens prevailed on the strength of two power play goals.

Who scored?

Malkin (8), Goligoski (5)

The Good?

• Two goals on the power play is a big plus.
• Flower was terrific. He was in good position and made a few ten-bell saves.
• The effort level the Pens showed when the Sens were desperately trying to tie the game was excellent. In other games recently, they seemed to not rise to the challenge. Today was a completely different story.
• Geno was 5-2 on faceoffs.

The Bad?

• Asham and Rupp played about 6 minutes each, including just one shift in the third period. You'd like to get at least three shifts out of those guys to help keep the top guys a bit more fresh.
• The Pens allowed 21 shots in the first period.

The Ugly?

• Nothing really. This was a pretty exciting hockey game to watch.

Any Surprises?

• All the offense was very surprising.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 13-8-2.

Who's next?

A very short break until they play the Flames tomorrow afternoon at 1:00.

Game #24 - vs Ottawa Senators

Game 24

Penguins (13-8-2, 28 points) at Sabres (10-11-1, 21 points)

Why does it matter?
First off, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I know I did.

This one should be two points. It is the kind of game the Pens need to win if they want to earn one of the top seeds in the East and keep improving as a team.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - 7-1-1 in their past 9 games. They gutted out a win over the Sabres on Wednesday night.
• Senators - Other than a hot streak that saw them win 8 out of 11, the Senators have been really bad. They have managed less than 20 shots per game over their last three games.

Questions to be answered

• This is the kind of game where the Pens need to knock down the Sens and not let them up. Will they be able to do it?
• It feels like the Pens have struggled with early starts. Can they get the legs going for the 1:00 drop of the puck?
• Can Sid keep his point streak going?

Keys to the game

• Dictate the pace of play. The Sens are not doing much offensively right now.
• Keep the PK strong. The one way I think the Sens can steal this game is with their power play.
• Attack Gonchar and Phillips - both are a team-worst -12.

Penguins 1, Sabres 0

So what happened?

I missed this one. Chalk it up to travelling for Thanksgiving.

Nice to see the rare Fleury shutout. He has the "A Game" going right now.

The Pens are on a serious hot streak now. The key will be to not slip into a losing streak like late October when they won 5 out of 6 followed directly by losing 5 out of 6.

Who scored?

Dupuis (6)

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 13-8-2. They are in second place in the Atlantic, four points behind the streaking Flyers. They're also fourth place in the conference, tied with Tampa Bay.

Who's next?

An early start on Friday to shake off the turkey. The Sens come to Consol at 1:00.

Game #23 - at Buffalo Sabres

Game 23

Penguins (12-8-2, 26 points) at Sabres (8-11-3, 19 points)

Why does it matter?
This is a chance for the Pens to keep the momentum going, especially against an opponent that is missing a few key players (Miller and Connolly).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - 6-1-1 in their past 8 games. They didn't fold on Monday against the Panthers and it earned them two points.
• Sabres - A recent hot streak has turned them from horrendous to just plain bad.

Questions to be answered

• Will we see Patrick Lalime? He has played well enough to lose every decision, but three of them were one goal games. If it isn't Lalime, it will be Enroth.
• How can Jordan Leopold go from a #5 or #6 defensemen on the Pens last year to a #1 on the Sabres? Were the Pens wrong? Is it the system in Buffalo?
• Special teams are on fire right now for the Pens. Can they keep the results consistent (especially on the power play)?

Keys to the game

• Make the most of your chances. The Sabres don't allow too many shots, and the Pens seem to be content to take what the opposition gives them. When you play that way, you need to convert when you have the chance.
• The power play for the Sabres can be dangerous. Watch out for Vanek and Roy.
• Play the match-up game as best you can. Tyler Myers is a -9. Steve Montador is a +14. Get Sid and Geno out there against Myers as much as possible.

Penguins 3, Panthers 2

So what happened?

The Pens played an amazing first period and were only up by one coming out of it. They played an average second period and the game was tied after that.

It all came down to a great effort goal by the combination of Letestu and Conner (a great example of the mythical "secondary scoring") and a great PK effort with less than 4 minutes remaining.

The Pens pulled out the close one in Florida.

Who scored?

Letang (4), Crosby (15), Conner (1)

The Good?

• Flower was great again. He made some big saves when he needed to.
• The power play had two tonight, and they couldn't have been more different. Letang took an early shot from the point while Kunitz blocked the vision of Vokoun. Goligoski made a great pass to a cutting Crosby, who took the pass on his backhand, shifted it to the forehand, and deposited it past a sprawling Vokoun (who was going the wrong way).
• The PK was great all night long, especially when Kennedy took a bad penalty with 4:37 left in the third (dumb, dumb penalty). They killed it off for him and that essentially sealed the win.

The Bad?

• Max Talbot, on the second line ostensibly to take faceoffs, did his best Geno impression and won just one of eleven faceoffs. The team as a whole lost 34 out of 54 (Sid was 13-9).
• The play leveled off after a hot start. You'd like to see the Pens keep it a bit more consistent in the second. If the puck isn't following you, then make sure you're doing the little things right.

The Ugly?

• Booth slew-footed Sid as time expired in the third. It was an especially cheap move considering they were both heading towards the boards. Booth should know what it feels like to be the victim of a dangerous play.

Any Surprises?

• Rupp and Engelland scratched? In the middle of a winning streak? Maybe because they want to get everyone into a game while the Dads are in the building? Thank goodness they won...

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 12-8-2. They are in second place in the Atlantic, four points behind the Flyers (who beat the Caps over the weekend and the Habs earlier tonight).

Who's next?

The Pens have the weekend off until they go to Florida on Monday to play the Panthers.

Game #22 - at Florida Panthers

Game 22

Penguins (11-8-2, 24 points) at Panthers (9-9-0, 18 points)

Why does it matter?
The Panthers have played pretty well at home recently, and Florida can be a tough state for the Pens historically.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - 5-1-1 in their past 7 games. Friday was ugly, but it was worth two points.
• Panthers - They're just returning from a four game road trip, but they've won three in a row at home and 5 out of 8 overall.

Questions to be answered

• Assuming he plays, will the Pens be able to solve Vokoun? He has a save percentage of 93% and 94% against them in the last two seasons respectively.
• Can the Pens stay consistent and sharp against a team that doesn't have a clear scoring threat? Booth and Weiss are good, but neither has set the world on fire so far this year.
• Will Geno react to Errey's comments on NHL Live by turning it up a notch?

Keys to the game

• Shots. Lots of shots. The Pens have peppered Vokoun over the past two seasons and managed to win several games as a direct result (including three in OT last year).
• Watch out for offense from the blue line. Wideman and McCabe are good offensively and can contribute.
• Score three and you'll probably win. When Vokoun plays, the Panthers have won just once when allowing more than two goals.

Penguins 5, Hurricanes 4 (OT - SO - 2-0)

So what happened?

The Pens played a wild one with the Canes. There were periods of good defensive hockey and periods of... not so good defensive hockey. The good news is that the Pens were able to do enough to escape with two points.

The play of the night was made by the replay boys in Toronto. The Pens took the lead in the third on a highly controversial goal. Kunitz shot the puck from point blank range and the whistle blew just as the puck dropped in behind the line and into the net. Everyone watching on TV (and Steigy and Errey) expected it to be "no goal". It probably should have been - it was clear the ref had lost sight of the puck and you could hear the whistle. For some unknown reason, the review reversed the call on the ice.

The Canes tied the game late in the third, but in a distinct departure from the Rangers game, the Pens were able to get the points.

Who scored?

Kunitz 2 (6,7), Kennedy (4), Crosby (14)

The Good?

• Fleury was good when he needed to be. He was hung out to dry on more than one of the goals that went in, and he made more than one key save on deflections in the OT.
• Lots of even-strength play tonight from two teams that like to skate. It was nice to not have a game bogged down by special teams.
• Crosby had a four point night and was clearly the player of the game.
• Kunitz also had a great game. He scored twice, delivered several big hits and established a new record on the high jump when he snagged the puck out of the air with both skates off of the ice.
• Geno had three points tonight and played good hockey at both ends (barring one bad turnover late in the game trying to go out of his zone in front of his own goalie).

The Bad?

• Allowing another third period lead to disappear late is bad. They have to find a way to win those games in regulation.

The Ugly?

• Third period faceoffs. The Canes dominated the Pens. It was 16-3 at one point. That's really ugly.

Any Surprises?

• I was surprised that Peters got the start in goal for the Canes. He hasn't been very good this year.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 11-8-2. They are in second place in the Atlantic, just two points behind the Flyers.

Who's next?

The Pens have the weekend off until they go to Florida on Monday to play the Panthers.

Game #21 - vs Carolina Hurricanes

Game 21

Hurricanes (9-9-0, 18 points) at Penguins (10-8-2, 22 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens want to close out their home stand on a positive note. They'd also like to solve Cam Ward, who has played really well against them the past three years.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens are hot, with 7 points in their past 4 games, capped by a great win over the Canucks. Fleury has been the biggest reason for this, I think.
• Hurricanes - In the past four games, the winning team has scored 7 or 8 goals and the losers just 1 or 2. The funny thing is that the Canes have split these games. Talk about hot and cold!

Questions to be answered

• Which Canes team will show up? The one that scores 7 or allows 7?
• Can the Pens exploit the Canes PK, which has not only sprung a leak in the dam, but is in danger of flooding the village?
• Can the Pens play the same competent, complete game they showed against the Canucks?

Keys to the game

• Control Staal. He has four multi-point games in his past five, including a five point effort (and hat trick) on Wednesday.
• Stay away from the dumb penalties - there were too many undisciplined trips to the box against the Canucks. Also - the Canes have been very good on the power play lately.
• Score three to win - the Canes haven't lost a game yet where they've allowed fewer than three goals.

Penguins 3, Canucks 1

So what happened?

The team defense won the game for the Pens. That started with Flower, but also included both the blue liners and the forwards who back-checked relentlessly all night long.

Fleury made several key saves and the Pens took advantage of some gaffes by the Canucks while on the power play to build a lead.

The Pens never relinquished that lead.

Who scored?

Crosby (13), Talbot (4), Asham (2)

The Good?

• Flower. Again. Really good.
• The hard work, especially from the forwards, paid off big time, both at even strength and...
• On the PK, when Talbot and Cooke's extra effort led directly to the Pens' second goal.
• On Asham's goal, Geno was going hard to the net. He seemed to be in the "this puck is going in one way or another" mindset. He went towards the post hard enough that he fell and knocked it off the moorings after the puck was batted in by Asham.
• By building a lead, the Pens were able to roll their lines while the Canucks largely skated with just three lines for much of the evening. That paid off big time as the Canucks were unable to muster a serious threat in the later part of the third period.
• The PK shut down one of the best power play units in the NHL.

The Bad?

• Geno and faceoffs just are not good buddies right now. Malkin lost all 8 draws that he took. This is one area he really needs to improve on (or quit taking them).

The Ugly?

• I don't have anything. There was nothing tonight that I'd classify as "ugly".

Any Surprises?

• Dupuis and Cooke both had more ice time than Malkin. Geno can't be 100% healthy right now.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 10-8-2. They are in second place in the Atlantic, four points behind the Flyers.

Who's next?

The three game home stand ends on Friday against Carolina.

Game #20 - vs Vancouver Canucks

Game 20

Canucks (10-4-3, 23 points) at Penguins (9-8-2, 17 points)

Why does it matter?
The Canucks are a tough foe from the Western Conference. It's a game where the Pens can let it all hang out without fear of giving points to an opponent in their division or conference.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Just coming off of improved play, but a miserable loss on Monday to the Rangers.
• Canucks - The fellows from Vancouver are wrapping up a five game road trip against the Eastern Conference.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens slow down the Canucks high-powered offense? If the Canucks score 3 or more, their record is 9-1-1. If they score less than three, they are 1-3-2.
• Can the Pens slow down the Canucks power play? They have SEVEN multi-goal games on the PP so far this year. That's an amazing number.
• Do the Canucks have an Achilles Heel? This might be the best team the Pens have played so far.

Keys to the game

• Keep them under three goals.
• Get traffic around Luongo. He's used to seeing a fair number of shots. The Pens have been doing a good job of getting bodies in front lately. That will have to continue.
• Score first. You don't want to get behind to this team and have to start pressing.
• Stay out of the box! The Canucks are over 30% on the power play over their last 10 games.

Rangers 3, Penguins 2 (OT)

So what happened?

This one felt like a punch to the gut.

The Pens battled all night to get one past Lundqvist. The Rangers held a 1-0 lead until the Pens got a power play chance late in the third. Kunitz redeemed an earlier play when he couldn't get the puck up over Lundqvist by beating him to tie the game. Just 38 seconds later, Matt Cooke gave the Pens the lead with just 1:53 remaining in the game.

How often does that happen?

Here's where it gets better: Lundquist breaks his stick in frustration after the Cooke goal. As he's skating over to the Ranger's bench, he throws it across the ice. That's an automatic penalty, putting the Pens on the power play and hopefully icing the game.

Not so fast my friend, as Lee Corso says.

The Pens allow a shortie to Marc Staal when Dubinsky makes an incredible pass out of the corner to Staal, who is standing not more than 8 feet from Fleury. He roofs the shot on the backhand. This was a complete breakdown on the part of the power play. Even if Dubinsky is able to get that pass across, there's no way Staal should have the time and space to shoot it.

Simply put, the Pens were not ready to match the determination of the Rangers.

In OT, Michalek blew a tire and the Rangers scored off of a 2-on-1.

Blech.

Who scored?

Kunitz (5), Cooke (4)

The Good?

• Great job to keep battling back to tie the game and take the lead.
• Fleury was excellent for most of the night. The goal late in regulation probably wasn't his fault and the OT goal certainly wasn't (he was facing a 2-on-none after Martin unsuccessfully tried to stop the pass across and took himself out of the play.

The Bad?

• Not matching the determination and effort of the Rangers in allowing them to tie the game while short-handed.

The Ugly?

• See "The Bad?" above.

Any Surprises?

• Blech. That's all I have.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 9-8-2. They are in third place in the Atlantic, one point behind the Rangers.

Who's next?

The next game is Wednesday night at home against the Canucks.

Game #19 - vs New York Rangers

Game 19

Rangers (9-7-1, 19 points) at Penguins (9-8-1, 17 points)

Why does it matter?
It's a divisional game against a team that has won two in a row and just scored 8 goals at even strength. Plus, the Rangers just got Gaborik back from injury.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Two wins in a row for just the second time this season.
• Rangers - They've won two without Lundqvist, which is no small feat for this team.

Questions to be answered

• Will we see the return of King Henrik?
• Can Fleury keep it going? He seems to have some of the confidence back right now, and he's making some big saves.
• Can the Pens ignore Sean Avery, who has been up to his old tricks lately?

Keys to the game

• Stay strong and consistent. The Rangers are tough to play against. They have some size and are pretty gritty, especially once you get past the first line.
• Dress Godard, especially if Boogaard dresses - the Rangers have several big guys that will drop the gloves and take liberties. They also don't use Boogaard much when he dresses (ala Godard).
• Don't let Gaborik beat you. Take him away and you have a much better shot at winning. Michalek - make it so.

Penguins 4, Thrashers 2

So what happened?

The stars carried the Pens tonight, providing both the scoring punch and the key saves. It was one of the few times this season where Sid, Geno and Fleury all got into the act.

The Thrashers were able to generate offense, but Fleury was up to the task, bailing out the defense more than once. Generally, I thought the D was okay, for what it's worth.

Geno had the hat trick, and Sid had a goal and two helpers.

This was a great road win.

Who scored?
Malkin 3 (5,6,7), Crosby (12)

The Good?

• Flower was excellent again. He made several huge key saves when the team needed him the most.
• Geno finally broke out in a big way offensively. Let's hope this gets him going.
• Special teams were strong, with a key power play goal and none allowed on the PK. That's especially good considering the Thrashers are pretty good on the power play.

The Bad?

• Another game, another bit of excitement in the third period. The only thing that could really be called "bad" was Letang's pass attempt that Eager intercepted in the Pens' zone. Flower bailed them out with a big save.

The Ugly?

• Something happened to Paul Martin. He didn't play the last 7 minutes of the game. I didn't hear anything mentioned on the broadcast.

Any Surprises?

• The Thrashers out shot the Pens. Given the way Atlanta allows shots, I'd have to say that's a surprise.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 9-8-1. They are in second place in the Atlantic, five points behind the Flyers.

Who's next?

The Pens play Monday night at home against the Rangers.

Game #18 - at Atlanta Thrashers

Game 18

Penguins (8-8-1, 17 points) at Thrashers (7-6-3, 17 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens badly need some momentum. They also badly need another good performance out of Marc-Andre Fleury.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A great win at home over the Lightning last night will hopefully start the ship sailing in the right direction.
• Thrashers - They had lost three in a row before a great performance from Pavelec on Thursday night against Minnesota.

Questions to be answered

• Who gets the start in goal? My money is on Fleury.
• The Thrashers are pretty bad defensively (29th in goals against and 27th in PK %). Can the Pens push the tempo and put the puck in the net?
• Can the Pens control the Thrashers on the power play? The Atlanta boys are 4th in efficiency, and unlike the Lightning, they get goals from a bunch of players.

Keys to the game

• The Thrashers will allow a ton of shots, but not take many penalties. Keep them bottled up and work for the quality shot... don't just throw pucks at the net.
• Build on the performance from last night.
• Watch out for Byfuglien. He's a top-scoring defenseman this year, but has an all-around type of game.

Penguins 5, Lightning 1

So what happened?

The Pens took a two goal lead into the third period and made things exciting. They gave the Bolts two 5-on-3 advantages. The Lightning scored on the first one to cut the deficit in half. The Pens shut the door on the second one. Talbot essentially sealed the game with about 8 minutes left.

Marc-Andre Fleury was great. He made the big saves when he needed to.

Who scored?
Dupuis (5), Goligoski (4), Talbot (3), Crosby (11), Engelland (1)

The Good?

• Fleury, as mentioned above, was great. His save against St Louis was a huge improvement over what was essentially the same thing as the last time these teams played (when St Louis scored).
• The team defense was also good. They didn't get caught pinching, so there weren't many odd-man breaks against them (taking care of the puck in the gray areas also helped here).
• The distribution of ice time was great tonight too. Only one forward played over 20 minutes (Sid - 20:16), and even the defense had their minutes spread out pretty well.

The Bad?

• Putting yourself in a position to give the Lightning two 5-on-3 situations in the third is bad. I know the calls could be considered questionable, but you can't make borderline plays or give the Zebras an excuse.

The Ugly?

• My Wife. Every time Steigerwald mentioned the name of Harju (the Lightning forward), she would say "I'm fine. How're you?" There was almost a beating tonight. At least I got the cat to bite her.

Any Surprises?

• Engelland scored the first of his NHL career. Add this to Orpik scoring against Boston, and I'd say our latest sign of the Apocalypse has arrived.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 8-8-1. We'll worry about standings if they can win tomorrow night.

Who's next?

A happy flight to Atlanta to play the Thrashers tomorrow night.

Game #17 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 17

Lightning (8-5-2, 18 points) at Penguins (7-8-1, 15 points)

Why does it matter?
The Lightning are depleted, without Vinny and Downie. The Pens need to take advantage and earn two points.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens have lost six of their past eight games, with the capper being the third period implosion against Boston.
• Lightning - The Lightning have lost four of their past five games, with the capper being the third period implosion last night against Washington. This sounds familiar...

Questions to be answered

• Will Geno play? Bylsma wasn't tipping his hand yesterday.
• Can someone please keep a eye on Martin St Louis? He seems to love to take that gray-area turnover and burn the Pens with it. If you're playing defense, be decisive. Don't get caught flat-footed or you're going to look bad against him.
• Who will be in goal, and does it really matter to the outcome with the way the defensive play has been lately?

Keys to the game

• With Downie out of the game, the Lightning won't have much fight / nastiness in the lineup. Look for Godard to sit.
• On the PK, Stamkos is your primary threat. Only two other Lightning that will be on the ice tonight have a PP goal (Brett Clark and Dominic Moore).
• Play 60 minutes. This is the biggest failing of this team so far this year.

Bruins 7, Penguins 4

So what happened?

I missed just about all of this one, but man, what an implosion...

In short, the Pens blew a two goal lead in the third period, but that's not the whole story. They allowed the Bruins to score 5 unanswered in the third. Really, that's about as bad as it gets.

I didn't see most of the game, so that's really all I have to say.

Who scored?
Asham (1), Orpik (1), Kunitz (4), Crosby (10)

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 7-8-1.

Who's next?

Tampa comes to town on Friday.

Game #16 - vs Boston Bruins

Game 16

Bruins (7-3-1, 15 points) at Penguins (7-7-1, 15 points)

Why does it matter?
The Bruins are tough. They have just as many points as the Pens, but in four fewer games. This is a match-up against a top Eastern Conference foe.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A nice end to the road trip amid more questions about Marc-Andre Fleury.
• Bruins - They've hit their first rough patch of the season with two straight losses.

Questions to be answered

• How will the Pens prepare for the four solid lines that Claude Julien rolls? No forward other than Krejci plays more than 18 minutes per game (which is amazing), and Krejci won't play against the Pens.
• Given the struggles on the power play, is there any hope against the Bruins? Boston has allowed three power play goals... all season.
• How many times will we hear about Marc Savard? I'd put the over / under at 2 mentions. If this were a Versus game, I'd say 17.

Keys to the game

• Don't get put to sleep by the system. Keep working. The Bruins play that special brand of trap hockey that can be deadly to watch.
• Defensive awareness is key. With the Bruins rolling the forwards, and the deep distribution of their scoring, the offense can come from anyone at any time. Be ready.
• Get Geno going early. Get him involved in the offense and shooting the puck.

Penguins 4, Coyotes 3 (OT - SO - 1-0)

So what happened?

Things started out poorly for the Pens but they were able to battle back to tie the game and send it to OT. They were unable to score in OT, despite a power play for the last 90 seconds or so and the game went to a shootout. The last of the shooters was the only one to score. Marc Letestu beat Bryzgalov with a quick wrister right through the wickets to send the Pens back home with something positive to build on.

Who scored?
Crosby (9), Malkin (4), Kunitz (3)

The Good?

• The power play scored again.
• Johnson was excellent in relief of Fleury, allowing just one goal (though you'd have to say it was a soft one). The Coyotes didn't mount too much offense, however.
• Nice effort to try to take the lead in the third period. The Pens out shot the Coyotes 14-7 during the period.
• Mike Comrie was involved offensively a few times. It seems like that's the first time this year that he's been able to be noticed.
• Sid and Geno led the way, showing that the hard work will pay off. Both goals (especially Sid's goal) were the product of being in the right place at the right time.
• Great play by Letestu to reverse the puck back to Kunitz for the game-tying goal. Great shot by Kunitz to roof the puck.

The Bad?

• Flower was yanked. The first goal certainly wasn't his fault, though you'd like him to make that save. The second one, however, was likely his worst all year.
• I think we're going to see Lovejoy when the Pens play on Wednesday at home. Engelland played less than 7 minutes. He was directly culpable on the first two Coyotes goals. Last night wasn't much better, with just over 10 minutes of ice time (that's low for a defenseman).
• Another slow start by the Pens. There were several times where they just didn't appear ready for the speed brought by the Coyotes.

Anything Ugly?

• The officiating was the most confusing I've seen in any game this year. The players had to be frustrated on both teams - no one had any idea what was or was not a penalty.

Any surprises?

• We haven't seen a shootout this year, so Letestu getting the call in the SO over Goligoski or Malkin was a surprise to me. I'm anxious to see if he has any slick moves (ala Letang) - tonight all we saw was an advantageous wrist shot (not that I'm complaining - it worked!)

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 7-7-1. They are four points behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

A few days off (again) until a game on Wednesday night at home against Boston.

Game #15 - at Phoenix Coyotes

Game 15

Penguins (6-7-1, 13 points) at Coyotes (4-5-3, 11 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens need to stop the bleeding. Facing the Coyotes penalty kill could be the perfect thing to cauterize the wound.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A great effort with nothing to show for it last night in Anaheim.
• Coyotes - The Coyotes have been really inconsistent so far. Two wins in their past four games is the best stretch of the season to this point.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens keep the intensity and work ethic for the entire game? The Coyotes have played really well against the Pens the last few years.
• Who will be in goal? I didn't think Fleury played poorly last night.
• The Coyotes PK allowed four goals last night. Can the Pens take advantage the same way?

Keys to the game

• The Coyotes are usually outshot and have fewer chances on the power play. That's a recipe for disaster.
• Yandle and Morris, two of the Coyotes top D, have been pretty bad. Yandle is a -7 and Morris is a -6.
• Have Geno keep shooting. He had 5 last night, but only 8 total in the three games prior to that. If he's playing the point on the power play, get him set for the one-timer and let it rip.

Ducks 3, Penguins 2

So what happened?

The first and third periods were good, maybe even excellent. The second one? Not so much. The Ducks scored three times in the second amid sloppy play and defensive breakdowns to beat the Pens, who were unable to get quite enough offense to tie the game.

Who scored?
Crosby 2 (7,8)

The Good?

• The Pens were hitting everything that moved for much of the first period. It was effective hockey and it was exciting to watch.
• The effort was there, especially once the Ducks made it 3-0 and Bylsma called for a timeout. Everyone chipped in and made a great effort.
• Despite being down, Bylsma kept rolling the lines. I think this will pay huge dividends later in the season, not only in keeping Sid and Geno fresh, but also in keeping everyone involved and (hopefully) improving.
• The power play finally scored.

The Bad?

• The second period. Defensive breakdowns led directly to all three Ducks goals (and some luck on the part of the Ducks too).
• Michalek was a -2. He hasn't played very well yet, but he's still just getting back from injury. He's also being asked to go up against the best of the other team normally.
• The Ducks top line exposed the fact that the Pens can be hemmed into their own end by size. Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan were dominant, especially in the second.

Anything Ugly?

• Saku Koivu flopping like a house of cards to short circuit the Pens power play in the third was ugly (and, unfortunately, effective).

Any surprises?

• Nothing comes to mind.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 6-7-1. They've lost five of their past six games and are four points behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic and two points behind the Rangers.

Who's next?

A quick turnaround to Phoenix for a game tonight.

Game #14 - at Anaheim Ducks

Game 14

Penguins (6-6-1, 13 points) at Ducks (5-7-1, 11 points)

Why does it matter?
Fleury is being given the chance to get back on track.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The most disappointing loss of the young season happened Wednesday night in Dallas.
• Ducks - Jonas Hiller has been rounding into shape, going 2-1 in his last three starts while allowing just 5 goals over those three games..

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens right the ship? The Ducks won't be an easy target. They have struggled so far this season, but they're 3-1-1 at home and, as noted above, Hiller is playing well.
• Can Fleury take advantage of his chance to get back to starting?
• Will the team respond with the work ethic needed against a talented team?

Keys to the game

• Take what they give you. The Ducks have been outshot badly in most games this year. They've been yielding tons of shots overall. Keep it simple and get the puck on net.
• Stay out of the box. The Ducks haven't drawn many penalties lately, but they're lethal when they do (5-14 over their last four games).
• Get the power play going. This was a strength of the team earlier this year. Now it looks like their biggest weakness. Change things up and work the puck down low more often.

Stars 5, Penguins 2

So what happened?

The Pens were unprepared for the start of the game. They were down 2-0 by the time they had a 5-on-3 power play for about 1:40. They managed a single shot on net. There were some cheap shots and fights, and Talbot almost tied the game at 2-2, but really, the Pens didn't deserve to be in this game.

Who scored?
Kennedy (3), Cooke (3)

The Good?

• The team stuck up for each other in the second period, with Kennedy, Letang, Crosby and Kunitz all drawing fighting majors.
• Much of the second period was exciting, both when they were playing hockey and when they were fighting.

The Bad?

• The power play. Really bad. 5-on-3 - one shot from 42 feet. They tried three others that were all blocked.
• Geno was a -3 on the night.
• Brent Johnson made a few nice saves, but he was pretty bad too. He was a bit shaky early, and any time you allow 5 goals, you haven't played well.
• How were Rupp, Godard and Engelland in this game, yet Kunitz, Crosby and Letang wind up fighting? Those guys need to try harder to find a dance partner on a night like this.

Anything Ugly?

• Brendan Morrow, assuming he was aware of Letang's hand injury, gets the Cheapness of the Decade award for picking a fight with a guy who has an injured hand. If he knew about it, that should earn him a special place in Hockey Hell from the Hockey Gods. The Pens must not have thought Morrow knew, because no one went after him.

Any surprises?

• Johnson's poor play was surprising, but it had to happen sometime.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 6-6-1. They've lost four of their past five games and are two points behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Friday night in Anaheim. The Ducks are struggling as mightily as the Pens are right now (see what I did there?)

Game #13 - at Dallas Stars

Game 13

Penguins (6-5-1, 13 points) at Stars (6-4-0, 12 points)

Why does it matter?
Dallas is a good test for the Pens. The Stars have played well for much of the season so far.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Johnson stopped a three game losing streak with a shutout win on the road last Saturday.
• Stars - The Stars did exactly the same thing with the backup goalie (Raycroft) pitching a shutout to stop a three game losing streak on Saturday.

Questions to be answered

• The Stars have allowed lots of shots several times this season so far. Can the Pens dictate the pace of the game and take advantage?
• How long will the hot streak run for Brent Johnson?
• Who will sit on the blue line with the return of Michalek? If you think the game will be fast, I guess you sit Engelland.

Keys to the game

• Consistency is key for the Pens. The Stars are solid across the board. Even their PK, which is ranked horribly, has only played poorly in two games (they've allowed just two PP goals in the last 5 games).
• Sag in the defensive zone. The Stars only have two goals from the blue line this year, while the forwards have been dangerous.
• No matter which goalie plays for the Stars, get the puck deep and get traffic in front. Make the Stars play in their own end.