Penguins 1, Islanders 0

So what happened?

We got to find out just how close the Penguins are to being the New York Islanders - just take away Sid and Geno and you're almost there.

On the flip side, the Pens battled throughout this game, giving the kind of effort that was necessary. Had they not played a complete game, this would have been a different outcome.

Great effort by both goalies, with one stop better than the next. Poulin was just unlucky tonight with one bounce.

Who scored?

Adams (3)

The Good?

• The Pens found a way to beat a hot goalie.
• The D jumped into the play frequently (especially Letang) without allowing too many odd-man breaks going back the other way.
• As mentioned above, both goalies were great.
• Jeffrey, Letestu and Talbot combined to go 17-8 on faceoffs.
• Four lines rolling, all night long.

The Bad?

• Staal was just 5-12 on faceoffs.
• Not much else was bad.

The Ugly?

• Did we need both fights at the beginning of the game?

Any Surprises?

• Are we seeing Ben Lovejoy take over the regular #6 defenseman role? He has played three in a row coming into the All-Star break.

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

The Pens are now 31-15-4. They are in second place in the Atlantic, five points behind the Flyers.

Who's next?

The All-Star game is this weekend. The Pens are back in action next Tuesday against the Rangers.

Game #50 - vs New York Islanders

Game 50

Islanders (15-25-7, 37 points) at Penguins (30-15-4, 64 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens have 32 games left this season. Including this one, four of those will be against the Islanders. They're not very good, but they play the Pens tough. May as well get used to beating them, starting with tonight's game, right?

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A big sigh of relief after the team held on to beat the Hurricanes on Saturday night (kinda like the Steelers, huh?)
• Islanders - Just what you'd expect - wildly inconsistent results (mostly on the losing end) with some flashes of promise.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens get to their power play? The Islanders haven't taken many penalties lately, and the Pens are all over the place as far as drawing penalties.
• Will there be a problem with work ethic? You know the Isles will bring a high energy game to Consol - the Pens will need to be ready to match it.
• Will we see Ricky D? He has been very good against the Pens this year with a .940 save percentage.

Keys to the game

• Stop Michael Grabner! Seriously - this guy has a six game point streak with 5 goals and 2 assists during that time.
• Out work the Isles. This will lead to power play chances, which the Pens should be able to exploit.
• Match up well against the Isles offensive players. Top players like Tavares, Moulson, Comeau and Parenteau have all been playing well this month.

Penguins 3, Hurricanes 2

So what happened?

A nice rebound win after the poor showing in New Jersey. The Pens scored the first goal. Once that happened, it dictated the pace of the game. They were able to build a 3-0 lead, which they held until late in the third period. It looked like there may be another late-game collapse, but the Pens were able to hold the fort this time (another encouraging sign).

Who scored?

Jeffrey (2), Letestu (10), Dupuis (10)

The Good?

• The Canes are now 8-2 against Pittsburgh when Eric Staal scores a goal.
• Really nice to see Jeffrey and Letestu both score - they are two guys the Pens were hoping would step up.
• Nice shorty by Pascal Dupuis.
• Another good night of work for the PK.

The Bad?

• Cam Ward. That shorty by Dupuis was the game winning goal. You think he might like that one back?

The Ugly?

• How about "almost ugly"? If they Pens had allowed the Canes to complete the comeback, this would have been the ugliest moment of the year.

Any Surprises?

• I was surprised the Canes didn't roll their lines earlier in the game. They finished with two forwards playing about five minutes and two more playing about 10.

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

The Pens are now 30-15-4. They are the second NHL team with 30 wins and are three points behind the Flyers for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Islanders. Tuesday. In Pittsburgh.

Game #49 - vs Carolina Hurricanes

Game 49

Hurricanes (23-18-6, 52 points) at Penguins (29-15-4, 62 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens will probably be without Sid and Geno again. The Hurricanes are a decent team that can give the Penguins fits. This will be a measure of the character of the guys not named Sid and Geno in the Pens' locker room.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Some nice wins spoiled by that awful taste left over from Jersey.
• Hurricanes - A nice rebound win over the Rangers after two losses to Boston.

Questions to be answered

• Who will provide the offense?
• Can the Pens keep Eric Staal in check? Carolina is 8-1 against the Pens when he scores a goal.
• Can Fleury step up and have a big game in net?

Keys to the game

• Limit their chances. The Canes like to pile up the shots. Keep them off of their game early to frustrate them and make them take chances.
• Get to the power play. The Canes' PK is one of the worst in the league this year.
• Be disciplined. It looks like the Hurricanes are content to trade chances. Make sure you win the battle at even-strength.

Devils 2, Penguins 0

So what happened?

The Pens weren't ready for the start of the game. Perhaps no one was less ready than Brent Johnson, who allowed a 47 foot unobstructed shot by Brian Rolston to get by him just 1:22 into the game. That put the Pens behind the Eight Ball for the rest of the night.

Brodeur made a few key saves, but the Pens were unable to mount any kind of sustained pressure until later in the third period.

The legs, tenacity and urgency just weren't there at the start.

Who scored?

No one.

The Good?

• Kovalchuk didn't do anything of merit.
• No one was hurt.

The Bad?

• Where was the skating and hitting, especially on the forecheck, during the first period? I know Brodeur can handle the puck enough to short-circuit some of that, but I also watched too many forwards not finish their checks when they had the chance.

The Ugly?

• The refs were wildly inconsistent again. Matt Cooke absolutely should have been called for goaltender interference.

Any Surprises?

• I can't say the outcome is a surprise. We've seen the Devils do this to the Pens too many times.

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

The Pens are now 29-15-4. They are five points behind the Flyers for first place in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

The Hurricanes come to Consol on Saturday night with All-Star captain Eric Staal.

Game #48 - at New Jersey Devils

Game 48

Penguins (29-14-4, 62 points) at Devils (13-29-3, 29 points)

Why does it matter?
This is a divisional game on the road against an opponent that is always tough for the Pens. It doesn't matter that the Devils stink this year - two points on the road in the Atlantic is never easy.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Three wins in a row has the Pens in a good place.
• Devils - They're excited about "making a push" after winning three out of four. The last time they won three out of four (Nov 22 - 27), they went on a 2-15 streak.

Questions to be answered

• Will the absence of Geno (and Sid) have an impact on Staal? I think so - he'll now see the #1 defense pairing, maybe for the first time in his career, for an entire game.
• What line will Jeffrey play on? I think it'll be the fourth line, but I'd like to see him get a decent amount of ice time. I think he can do more long term for the team than Letestu can.

Keys to the game

• Lock them down. The only reason the Devils have won a few games here is they're finally scoring some goals. Keep them at 3 or less and you have a good chance.
• Check the numbers - the Devils have used 32 different skaters so far this year.
• Capitalize on Kovalchuk. Ilya has 26 points this year and is a -27 (wow - that is really bad).

Penguins 4, Red Wings 1

So what happened?

I didn't see any of this game, outside of the Conner penalty shot.

Nice to see the Pens earn the two points, though.

Who scored?

Staal (3), Conner (6), Kunitz (16), Cooke (9)

The Good?

• Staal continued his hot play with another goal.
• Fleury was the #1 star with 36 saves on 37 shots.
• Conner's penalty shot goal was sweet.

The Bad?

• What's up with Geno only playing 15 minutes?

The Ugly?

• How did they not award a penalty shot to Drew Miller when he was tripped by Kris Letang while on the PK?

Any Surprises?

• Letestu is still on the #1 power play despite playing on the fourth line right now.

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

The Pens are now 29-14-4. They are three points behind the Flyers for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Thursday is Snoozeapalooza in Jersey against the Devils.

Game #47 - vs Detroit Red Wings

Game 47

Red Wings (28-11-6, 62 points) at Penguins (28-14-4, 60 points)

Why does it matter?
Datsyuk, Modano, Stuart, Cleary, Holmstrom, Osgood, Howard... do these names sound familiar? None of them will play for the Red Wings, presenting a very different team than the one the Penguins are used to seeing. Still, it is a premier match up, and the Wings are the top scoring team in the NHL. It will be a tough game.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Two straight nice wins on the road have taken the edge off of the rough stretch lately.
• Red Wings - Even with their injuries, they've managed points in every game but two since Christmas.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens keep the intensity up even though the Wings are depleted?
• Can the Pens get to the power play? The Wings have allowed a power play goal in four of the past five games.
• Will the team scoring continue? The Pens have been getting balanced scoring across their lineup recently.

Keys to the game

• Be ready to go. The Wings will be especially gritty given that they're missing so many players.
• Keep Franzen in check. He, along with Zetterberg, are the biggest offensive threats the Wings have.
• Match up against Lidstrom?? Believe it or not, the All-World defenseman is a -1 on the season.

Penguins 3, Bruins 2

So what happened?

Another bit of revenge extracted against a tough opponent on the road, but it wasn't easy.

The Pens worked hard to build a 2-0 lead with somewhat fluky goals from Kunitz (skate deflection after he missed the puck with his stick) and Dupuis (wacky bounce off of Rask after a carom off of the end boards).

That lead vanished in 13 seconds midway through the second period when Seidenberg sent a seeing-eye shot through several screens, and then Ryder pulled the "use the defenseman as a screen" trick and toasted Fleury.

HCDB called timeout, and the Pens didn't panic. They kept playing, and their effort paid off when Jordan Staal gathered a loose puck in front of Rask and backhanded it past him to put the Pens up.

After that, they hung on for dear life, with some really nice saves by Flower. He was tracking the puck extremely well in the third period.

Who scored?

Kunitz (15), Dupuis (9), Staal (2)

The Good?

• The Pens played things pretty evenly with the Bruins. It was an exciting game to watch, with both teams getting several great chances.
• Staal had two more points and was the #1 star again. Geno who?
• Letang and Orpik were great, playing more than 25 minutes of ice time. They work really well together, with Letang jumping into the play while being able to count on Orpik covering up for him.
• Fleury was solid the whole game. He stopped 44 of 46 shots.

The Bad?

• I'd love to see Letestu get more than 8 minutes (and change) of ice time, but that's what happens when you play him on the fourth line.
• The Bruins played with four defense, essentially. Both Kampfer and (Pittsburgh native) Bartkowski played less than 10 minutes, which is really low for a blueliner.

The Ugly?

• The refs blew a big one that could have cost the Pens the game - they called Dupuis for a double-minor for high-sticking, and it wasn't Dupuis' stick that did the dirty work (it was Chara's). Very bad mistake... and the Pens were very fortunate it didn't cost them.

Any Surprises?

• Only one chance on the power play was surprising.
• Also - the Steelers came back from being down two touchdowns at halftime to beat the Ravens!! Shannon Sharpe was kicking off the whining parade on the postgame show.

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

The Pens are now 28-14-4. They are still one point behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic, though the Pens have played two more games than the Flyers.

Who's next?

The Red Wings come to Consol on Tuesday night.

Game #46 - at Boston Bruins

Game 46

Penguins (27-14-4, 58 points) at Bruins (24-12-7, 55 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens will play a fifth straight game without Sid. They'll also have a second straight shot at revenge after beating the Canadiens on Wednesday.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A nice win in Montreal has hopefully turned the momentum for the Pens.
• Bruins - Points in 10 of their past 11 games and they're winning several different ways. Thursday was an unlikely offensive explosion in a 7-5 win over Philly.

Questions to be answered

• The Bruins may have to play without Lucic, Ferrence and Stuart. Can the Pens take advantage, especially against a depleted defense?
• Can Geno pick up the scoring? I have a good feeling about today...
• Which power play will show up, the one that has is 5-12 in the past two games or the one that went 3-32 in the nine games before that?

Keys to the game

• Stay focused on playing 60 minutes. The Pens have lost three times when leading going into the third period this year. Two of those are to the Bruins.
• Be ready for the early start. Get the legs (and heads) ready to go.
• Get the shots on net, especially from the point or above the slot. Given the system the Bruins play, it's hard enough to get the pucks deep. Don't miss wide and give them a free breakout pass.

Penguins 5, Canadiens 2

So what happened?

The Pens extracted a measure of revenge from the Habs after their loss last week.

It didn't look good for a little while in the second period.

The Pens scored first on a blistering shot by Alex Goligoski. He put the puck in top corner over Price's glove hand.

The Habs scored the next two (the equalizer was just 18 seconds later) and that sinking feeling was starting to set in. Fortunately the Habs started "The Bennie and Wisi Show" in the penalty box, as Pouliot and Wisniewski combined for five separate minor penalties. Throw in one other one (Too Many Men) and you have six power play chances over the final two periods for the Pens. They scored on three of them and that was the deciding factor.

The Habs had the #1 PK in the NHL coming into the game. I can't imagine they will any longer.

My favorite part was watching Fleury imitate Price's pose from last week after the final horn sounded.

Who scored?

Goligoski 2 (8,9), Kennedy (7), Staal (1), Kunitz (14)

The Good?

• This was a complete effort. There was no letdown in the later stages of the third. The Pens out shot the Canadiens 13-7 in the third period despite having a lead.
• Staal had a breakout game with three points and six hits. He was the #1 star.
• Goligoki was good and bad. He had three points, but he also took two penalties and his man (Desharnais) scored in the second period (though to be fair, it was a deflection, and there wasn't much Goose could have done shy of knocking him down).
• Geno had seven shots and seemed to play a solid game.

The Bad?

• Not much. Two penalties in the first period could have been disastrous for the Pens had their PK not bailed them out.

The Ugly?

• On the line changes, several Montreal players would sit on the wall of the bench prior to the change. One of the Pens was checked into the player sitting on the wall. That has serious potential for disaster and needs to stop immediately. Stay in the bench until you hop over to change.

Any Surprises?

• The power play breaking through for three goals, and none of them involved Geno! That's a double surprise.

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

The Pens are now 27-14-4. They are one point behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic, though the Pens have played three more games than the Flyers.

Who's next?

More revenge on Saturday as the Pens play a matinée against the Bruins.

Game #45 - at Montreal Canadiens

Game 45

Penguins (26-14-4, 56 points) at Canadiens (24-16-3, 51 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens are flailing right now. They need someone to step up and lead the way. The Habs will generally give them the chance to play a better style than we've seen against the Wild and Bruins.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Five losses in their past six games, including a heart breaker against the Bruins.
• Canadiens - With points in five straight games (4-0-1), the Habs are playing well right now.

Questions to be answered

• Last time the Pens allowed a comeback against the Bruins, they began their longest streak of good play of the season. Can they start another one?
• Geno? Are you there? We need you to score. This one is staying here until he steps up.
• Will the team be able to cut down on the dumb penalties? The high-sticking call on Matt Cooke stands out as one that really shouldn't have happened against the Bruins.

Keys to the game

• Get someone in front of Price (or Auld). Sid was scoring tons of goals from the front of the net area, but no one seems to be camped there now.
• Play 60 minutes.
• Win the special teams battle. That means no dumb penalties. It also means finding a way to get the puck in the net on the power play.

Bruins 4, Penguins 2

So what happened?

This was a kick in the nuts. The Bruins were the recipients of a seeing-eye one-timer from Zdeno Chara at the very end of a power play late in the third period. It cut the deficit to 2-1 and the Bruins were energized. At that point, they wanted it more than the Penguins did. Before you could blink, the score was tied and after a questionable call against Jordan Staal, the penalty kill betrayed the Pens a second time in less than three minutes, allowing the Bruins to take the lead for good.

This is a troubling trend - we've seen at least three third period collapses so far this season. Does this team have the will to win when it counts?

Who scored?

Rupp (4), Letang (7)

The Good?

• The effort for almost 57:00 was great, and Fleury was spectacular during the first 57 minutes.

The Bad?

• The last three minutes and change. You can't let another team steal the game away like that. At least get it to overtime.
• Too many penalties. Again. At crucial times. Late in the third.

The Ugly?

• The Pens were out shot 13-2 in the third period. You have to be able to get more than two pucks on net in a period, especially when the game is close, much less the DTGL (Dreaded Two Goal Lead).

Any Surprises?

• The defensive breakdowns late in the third. On the PK is somewhat understandable, but on the even strength goal that tied the score? If you're a forward, don't get beat going back towards your own net.

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

The Pens are now 26-14-4. They have lost five of the past six games.

Who's next?

A quick chance for revenge from last Thursday when the Pens go back to Montreal on Wednesday night.

Game #44 - vs Boston Bruins

Game 44

Bruins (21-12-7, 49 points) at Penguins (26-12-4, 56 points)

Why does it matter?
Another tough match-up for the Pens, who are struggling offensively without Sidney Crosby.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Losses in four of the past five games.
• Bruins - Same thing here - losses in four out of five.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens avoid the outcome from their last meeting when the Bruins scored five times in the third period?
• Geno? Are you there? We need you to score.
• Can the Pens "get to their game" (as HCDB and ACTG like to say)? They seem to struggle against defensively oriented teams.

Keys to the game

• Blah blah blah... Marc Savard... blah blah blah... Matt Cooke... blah blah blah... first meeting since "The Hit". I'll laugh my butt off if Savard tries to fight Cooke (though I'd probably have some respect for the guy if he tried it).
• Not really a key, but watch Kunitz try to hit Chara. He might come up to his elbow, but he keeps trying to plaster him.
• Be ready - the Bruins are physical and have some balanced scoring on the wings. Milan Lucic is a runaway freight train who can send you into next week if you're not paying attention.

Wild 4, Penguins 0

So what happened?

Yeah, this was about as exciting as the score would make you think. The Pens hit the post twice, but it really was a butt-kicking for most of the game.

Who scored?

No one.

The Good?

• Um... Michalek hit the post?
• No one got hurt?

The Bad?

• Everything else was bad. The Pens didn't get to their game until the third period, and then it was only for the first part of the period. That ended when there was a no-call on the Wild for tying up Mike Rupp and Cal Clutterbuck put the Wild up 3-0 right afterwards.
• Too many penalties. The self-discipline is there some nights and strangely missing other nights.

The Ugly?

• Getting out shot 27-16 in the second and third period when already down 2-0.

Any Surprises?

• I can't come up with one. This is exactly what most Pens fans were afraid of.

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

The Pens are now 26-13-4. They have 56 points and are one point behind Philly for the lead in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

Boston comes to Consol on Monday night.

Game #43 - vs Minnesota Wild

Game 43

Wild (20-15-5, 45 points) at Penguins (26-12-4, 56 points)

Why does it matter?
This will be a difficult game for the Pens. They need to find some offense without Sid in the lineup, but the Wild have been playing extremely well on the road lately. Having Jose Theodore in net against them doesn't help either - he usually tortures the Pens.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Not enough offense and a few breakdowns cost them the game against the Habs.
• Wild - Three straight wins, including a nice victory over the Bruins in Boston on Thursday.

Questions to be answered

• Will Dupuis rise to the occasion facing his former team? He had four points in two games last year, and the Pens need the help.
• Can Geno put this team on his back like he did a few seasons ago when Sid was out?
• Can Fleury pitch the shutout tonight? If there was ever a time for one, it's now.

Keys to the game

• Score three goals. The Wild have won just three games when they allow three or more.
• Score first - it will keep them from sitting back.
• Watch out for Brent Burns. He has 12 goals on the season from the blue line. He's not the physical force the Byfuglien is, but he's just as big (6'5").

New article at Hockey Indepenent

I have a new article up over at Hockey Independent called "The Kids Are Alright". It's about the four rookies in the lineup and the impact they've had on the team.

Give it a look!

Canadiens 2, Penguins 1 (OT - SO - 1-0)

So what happened?

No Sid, no Cooke, no pucks in the net. The Pens used a rebound to get their only goal of the night on a shot from the point by Lovejoy. Asham banged the rebound past Price.

Other than that, the game was entertaining enough, except for the part about losing.

The Pens killed off an extended 5-on-3 in the third period (which they earned after they put the puck over the glass twice in succession while already on the PK).

I wanted to see someone else (Geno, maybe?) step up tonight with Sid not playing, but Carey Price was up to the challenges.

Who scored?

Asham (5)

The Good?

• The PK was awesome. The MVP of the kills in the third was Craig Adams, who put himself in front of two bombs from Wisniewski.
• The Pens tried everything tonight - the defense activated to some extent, and they did out shoot the Habs by a margin of 32-23. It felt like the playoffs last year all over again.
• Johnson was sharp and did everything you could have asked him to.

The Bad?

• Nothing really bad... just not enough quality scoring chances.

The Ugly?

• Gionta using his stick to kick Geno's leg out and trip him. It was borderline dirty (like much of the stuff that Mighty Mouse does), and left me wondering if we'll be without Sid and Geno on Saturday.

Any Surprises?

• Dupuis in the first three in the shootout? I know he scored against the Caps, but he doesn't have the puck handling skill set that you like to see from a guy in the shootout.

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

The Pens are now 26-12-4. They have 56 points and hold a one point lead over Philly in the Atlantic division. They're one point behind Vancouver for the NHL lead.

Who's next?

The Wild come to Consol on Saturday. If Sid and Geno can't play, get ready for a complete snooze-fest with the way the Wild like to sit back and trap.

Game #42 - at Montreal Canadiens

Game 42

Penguins (26-12-3, 55 points) at Canadiens (21-16-3, 45 points)

Why does it matter?
Montreal has been a tough team for the Pens recently, but several of the Pens love going there to play (like Talbot and Fleury, just to name a few).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Everything they threw at the net was going in last night.
• Canadiens - The Habs are 3-8-1 in their past 12 games, but have thrown 48 and 50 shots at the opposition in their previous two (both went to OT, with one win and one loss).

Questions to be answered

• Can Steigy and Errey please not call out any Habs in the third period this time? In the first meeting this season, they talked about how Gomez had been invisible... he scored the game winner about a minute later.
• Can the PK rise to the challenge? The Habs have two straight multi-goal games on their power play.
• Will the Pens have the legs to either lock down the Habs or get into a shootout with them? I think we're looking at an up-tempo game either way. I hope they slept well.

Keys to the game

• Stay out of the box entirely. The Habs have four goals in just seven chances over the past two games.
• Stick with Cammalleri around the net. He has been a Penguins killer lately.
• Watch out for offense from the blue line. Wisniewski has been hot since he was acquired from the Isles (he must feel like he used a Get Out of Jail Free card or something).

Penguins 8, Lightning 1

So what happened?

Geno scored 7 seconds into the game when he made a great read off of the opening draw and stuck with the play long enough to flip the puck past a down-and-out Dwayne Roloson. They could have stopped the game right there, because it didn't get any closer.

It was 5-0 by the end of the first period, which rendered the Stamkos penalty shot a moot point early in the second (Stamkos blew a tire on the way to the net and never got to shoot the puck).

The Pens out shot the Bolts 36-15 through two periods. They never took their foot off of the throttle until the third period. It was one of the few true laughers we've seen in recent years since most games are at least competitive.

Who scored?

Malkin (15), Conner (5), Kennedy (6), Kunitz 3 (11,12,13), Letestu (9), Goligoski (7)

The Good?

• This was a blowout from the very beginning of the game. The Pens came out like a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders, and it was great to watch.
• Kunitz had a hat trick, with the second two goals being nice deflections of Goligoski shots on the power play. It was the second hat trick of Kunitz's career.
• Letestu had a sick move on his goal, showing great patience and quick hands in front of Roloson.
• The Pens watched the Bolts change the goalie three times (Roloson --> Ellis --> Roloson --> Ellis).
• No one should be worn out since the turnaround is quick for tomorrow night's game.
• How do you know you had a great game? When Lovejoy plays more minutes than Brooks Orpik (no offense to Ben).
• If you could give a star to the opposition when they lose 8-1 on the road, I'd give one to Adam Hall, who never quit playing. He scored the only goal for the Bolts on a nice deflection.

The Bad?

• Nothing, really.

The Ugly?

• No, and that leads into the surprise...

Any Surprises?

• The Lightning didn't try anything stupid while the game was still in reach. No fights, and only one questionable hit (and that was later after everything was decided). You could be kind and say they were classy or, be a disgruntled Tampa fan and say they didn't care.

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

The Pens are now 26-12-3. They have 55 points and are currently tied with Detroit and Vancouver for the NHL lead, but the Canucks are just getting underway tonight.

Who's next?

A trip to Montreal to play tomorrow night. Get ready for those silly Canadiens (and the opposition on the ice won't be bad either).

Game #41 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 41 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning (24-11-5, 53 points) at Penguins (25-12-3, 53 points)

Why does it matter?
This game might be more difficult than the Winter Classic. The Lightning have been red hot, going 9-2 over their past 11.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Forget the Winter Classic - the Pens have lost three of their past four games.
• Lightning - In addition to their hot streak, the Lighting just finished off the Caps in Washington tonight.

Questions to be answered

• Will the Bolts stick with Roloson after his shutout? Isn't he too old to play back-to-back?
• Which team will score 5? The winning team has scored five in each of the first two games between these teams this year (they split, by the way).
• Will Conner continue to sit with Staal returning? Who else would you sit instead of Conner? If it were me, I'd think about Rupp or Asham... depending on the opponent.

Keys to the game

• Focus on the details - four of the past five wins for the Lighting have come in OT. That tells me they're both lucky and good right now.
• Play the PK like you would if Ovechkin is out there... except that Stamkos is the one to watch, and he's more dangerous than Ovechkin is right now. Get ready for his one-timer.
• Don't let St. Louis beat you. He never stops, especially when killing penalties.

Capitals 3, Penguins 1

So what happened?

The Caps rode a hot goaltender along with a few key plays to a win over the Pens. Both teams had spurts where they turned up the pressure, but Washington was able to capitalize on the chances they received.

The Pens were unable to score on four power play chances. That was the single biggest disappointment. They also allowed a power play goal to the Caps.

Flower was solid, making several key saves, but his miscue when trying to play the puck behind the net gave a wide open net to Eric Fehr on what would be the game winning goal.

It's hard to view this as just another regular season game. It felt like more than that. In the end, however, it is worth the same two points to the Caps, and will be just another loss for the Pens when the season comes to a close.

Who scored?

Malkin (14)

The Good?

• The effort and intensity was there.
• Staal was able to return. He was very effective on faceoffs and had some visibility early on.

The Bad?

• The ice conditions were bad. If that game is on a regular rink, Fleury doesn't misplay the puck.
• The hit Sid took at the end of the second was nasty and should have been a penalty. You don't really want your superstar getting blindsided on a national TV showcase.

The Ugly?

• The TV broadcast was the worst part. They were nowhere near close enough to the ice surface. The result was the worst viewing experience I've had since all of the games went to HD.

Any Surprises?

• Staal's return would be a surprise. Asham playing less than 5 minutes would be another one.

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

The Pens are now 25-12-3. They have 53 points and are still on top of the standings in the NHL (though they are tied with Detroit).

Who's next?

It doesn't get any easier, as Tampa Bay is coming to Consol on Wednesday.

Game #40 - The Winter Classic

Game 40 - The Winter Classic

Capitals (22-12-5, 49 points) at Penguins (25-11-3, 53 points)

Why does it matter?
You won't get a better hockey spectacle than this game. Everything about the event will be special and something to savor.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens have been plagued by a bit of inconsistency lately, with the power play, the PK and the final scores all over the map.
• Capitals - The Caps not only have ended their losing streak, they have points in 5 straight games (4-0-1) and are playing well.

Questions to be answered

• Will the teams be too juiced up to start the game?
• Did someone outfit Geno with the rear view and side view mirrors so he can see Ovechkin coming this time?
• How will Staal's return impact the second line? Will HCDB put Staal right back up there, or will he work Jordan into a more familiar role on the third line until he gets his legs back?

Keys to the game

• Watch Ovechkin, especially early. He's sure to try to run someone in the name of "excitement".
• Win at even-strength. The Caps and Pens have both been inconsistent at best on the power play lately.
• Roll four lines and stay out of the box. Given the importance of even-strength play, you want to let the guys get into the flow of the game (especially with Staal returning).