Playoff Game #1 - vs Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 1

Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins

Why does it matter?
This is the Pens chance to show that the inconsistency that plagued them this season was nothing to worry about. The Sens were on the other extreme - they were either consistently good for a stretch or consistently terrible. Let's hope the latter holds for this series.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Trying to get everyone healthy to start the playoffs. It looks like everyone will go, with Kunitz being the question mark.
  
• Senators - They will be without Kuba and Kovalev. The loss of Kuba hurts, as he was their ice time leader during the regular season.

Questions to be answered

• Which Fleury will show up? Can he regain his playoff form from the last two seasons?
• Can the Pens stop Alfie and Spezza?
• What happens if they drop one of the games in Pittsburgh? How will they react to adversity?

Keys to the game

• Get to Elliot early. Don't let him get comfortable back there.
• Don't get wrapped up in any nonsense. I know you see less of that in the playoffs, but if Ruutu or Neil get you thinking about them instead of winning the game, you're losing the battle.
• Focus on the details. Finish the checks all game long. Make sure on line changes before jumping on. Make the extra effort on the back-check. These are the things that can win the series.

2010 Playoffs - Round 1 - Ottawa Senators

The Pens have played the Senators twice in the playoffs in the past three years, losing in 5 games three years ago and then sweeping them two years back.

The past history doesn't matter now, though if I could have one request... when the series goes back to Ottawa, can we please have this guy back again? I need something to laugh about..

Without further ado, here are my keys to the series.

1. Goaltending - Marc-Andre will need to be sharp. Elliot is getting his first taste of the playoffs. I think the edge here obviously goes to the Pens, but getting to Elliot early to rattle his confidence would be a good idea.
2. No Kuba - this will be huge for Geno, who likes to torture the Sens. Kuba led the Sens in ice time this season, and while Volchenkov and Phillips will try to shut down Sid, Geno will get to go up against guys like Sutton, Karlsson, Picard and Carkner. Can you say "Advantage, Penguins" in Russian?
3. Watch out for the secondary scoring - The Sens have some depth at forward, despite Kovalev's injury. Michalek, Fisher and Kelly can all chip in. Ruutu, Cullen and Neil make them tough to play against.
4. Cheat on the D - Ottawa's defense really doesn't shoot the puck very much. Only Karlsson comes close to averaging two shots per game. The Pens can take advantage by watching for the point men of the Sens trying to make the extra pass.

Penguins 6, Islanders 5 (OT)

So what happened?

Wow - what didn't happen? Sid had points on the first five goals for the Pens and entered the third period needing three points to catch Sedin for the Art Ross. The Pens also held a three goal lead. I can't have been the only one thinking "let the Isles make it interesting so Sid keeps pushing." Of course, I wasn't expecting the Pens to give up that three goal lead in the third (two of them on crazy deflection shots) and take the game to OT.

Once they hit OT, it didn't really matter what the outcome was, because the game result was meaningless. Having said that, it was nice to get the W.

Sid did earn a share of the Rocket Richard trophy by tying Stamkos with 51 goals on the season. I'm glad to see Sid earn that. I'm even happier that he didn't have to share it with Ovechkin.

What exactly was Geno doing with three minor penalties?

Who scored?
Malkin (27,28), Godard (1), Crosby (50,51), Leopold (11)

Any surprises?
Godard scored!!! If Craig Adams had put one in too, I'd be checking for the impending Apocalypse.

Any change in the standings?

Nope.

Conference: 4th

Who's next?
The Sens, hopefully without the gladiator walking through their locker room as part of their intro.

Notes:

• I see Leopold and still think back to Scuderi. Jordan brings more offense without sacrificing too much in the way of defense (Leopold was a minus player in just three games after joining the Pens).
• Nice to see Tangradi. In our completely-too-short-to-make-any-meaningful-judgement observation, he looks like a 50 goal scorer.
• Hopefully Geno has the PIM out of his system. He can't put the Pens short handed (and take himself out of the game) in the playoffs.

Game #82 - at New York Islanders

Game 82

Penguins (46-28-7, 99 points) at Islanders (34-37-10, 78 points)

Why does it matter?
It doesn't, really. The Pens have nothing to play for. They're going to be the 4th seed in the East and will play Ottawa in the first round. The only thing that matters is watching to see if Sid can score two goals to pass Ovechkin, who did not score in the Caps season finale.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A disappointing loss to the Thrashers put the Pens securely in the 4 spot.
  
• Islanders - To say they've been smacked around lately would be kind. They've lost two straight, giving up 7 goals in each one.

Questions to be answered

• Will Sid hit 50 goals? He has 15 points (4 + 11) in his last 7 games.
• Can the Pens avoid injury to anyone else? Orpik, Cookie and Kunitz are all dealing with ailments of various sorts.
• Will we see the debut of Eric Tangradi?

Keys to the game

• Just get through the game - get some work in and don't get hurt. Think of this as a scrimmage to help as a tune-up for the Sens.

Thrashers 1, Penguins 0

So what happened?

The Pens simply couldn't score (they hit two posts). They were stoned by Hedberg, who always seems to play well against them. What is it about these former Penguins? Anyway, they did just about everything right with a good defensive effort and good offensive zone time. They out shot the Thrashers 33-22 overall, and won that battle in each period. The PK also killed off 7 chances for the Thrashers.

Despite losing the chance for the #2 seed, I feel pretty good about the way the Pens are playing right now. The goals will come.

Who scored?
No one.

Any surprises?
It was surprising to me that the Pens could go from scoring 7 in a game to getting shut out.

Any change in the standings?

Yep - Jersey won, so the Pens will finish 4th in the conference and play Ottawa in the first round.

Conference: 4th

Who's next?
A meaningless finale against the Islanders. Maybe Sid can get his 50th.

Notes:

• Not good by Geno in taking two minor penalties. The second one was particularly bad as it came with less than 4 minutes left in the game and while the Pens were surging.
• HCDB really had to shorten the bench. Sid, Geno and Staal all played significant minutes.

Game #81 - at Atlanta Thrashers

Game 81

Penguins (46-27-7, 99 points) at Thrashers (34-34-13, 81 points)

Why does it matter?
It's looking likely that the winner of the Atlantic division will have the #2 seed. That should be the focus - home ice through two rounds (should they make it through the first round).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens took care of business in exemplary fashion against the Isles on Thursday.
  
• Thrashers - Atlanta wilted down the stretch (7 losses in 9 games) and cost themselves a playoff spot in the process.

Questions to be answered

• Will Sid hit 50 goals? He has 15 points (4 + 11) in his last 6 games.
• Can the power play keep going? Don't look now, but they have 5 goals in 15 chances over the last three games.

Keys to the game

• No mental lapses!
• Simplify the game. Go north and south, get pucks to the net and crash. That will be what drives success in the playoffs when teams tighten up.

Penguins 7, Islanders 3

So what happened?

It was a great evening at the Igloo. All of the Pens' alumni were in the house and the Pens seemed to turn back the clock to the 90s in terms of their scoring.

The game was pretty close early on, and would have been much closer if not for Fleury. He made several amazing saves during the first two periods, most notably three in quick succession with the Pens on the power play early in the second period.

Sid was originally credited with Guerin's first goal, but he went to the official scorer after the game and had it changed to Bill. It would have been his 50th, and it is just another example of the exemplary character that Sid possesses.

The only real trouble spot for the Pens tonight was the defense. They allowed the Isles to get tons of great chances early in the game. If not for Flower, this could have been a different game.

Who scored?
Orpik (2), Goligoski (8), Malkin (26), Crosby (49), Guerin (20,21), Kennedy (13)

Any surprises?
The Pens scored first, and it was just 23 seconds into the game!

Any change in the standings?

Yep - both New Jersey and Buffalo lost, so the Pens, while still in 4th, are tied in points with the Devils. It was the best possible outcome for the evening.

Conference: 4th (tied with New Jersey, behind due to tie breaker)

Who's next?
On the road to another key game in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Notes:

• Not sure how many folks realize this (they mentioned it in the post game show), but Bill Guerin is the first player in NHL history to score 20 goals with 7 different teams. Congrats to Bill.
• Nice job balancing the ice time by HCDB. Only three guys with more than 20 minutes (Gonchar, Eaton and Staal).
• Nice job also by the PK to kill off a 5 minute major during the third period.
• The power play had a multi-goal game, and generally looked good. That could be really big heading into the playoffs.

Game #80 - vs New York Islanders

Game 80

Islanders (34-35-10, 78 points) at Penguins (45-27-7, 97 points)

Why does it matter?
Winning the division would be a good idea. Three wins to close out the season is critical to doing that.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The results just weren't there against the Caps on Tuesday.
  
• Islanders - Five wins in their past six games. They play well when there's no pressure.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens take care of business? This is a team they should beat.
• Is this a good time for Flower to regroup? Fleury has been strong against the Islanders this year.
• Can Sid step up? He has 8 points (3 + 5) in four games against the Isles this year.

Keys to the game

• Win at even strength. The Isles have done nothing special on special teams recently, but they have been winning.
• Realize what's at stake. The Pens need to keep their intensity even if the Isles don't have it.
• Get healthy for the playoffs. As important as the #2 or #3 seed is, it's not as important as having everyone at full strength for next week.

Capitals 6, Penguins 3

So what happened?

If you've seen a game this year against the Caps or Devils, then you know what happened. The result was the same. Ten games against those two teams... ten losses. It's not even worth discussing the specifics.

Yeah, I'm mailing this one in.

Who scored?
Crosby (48), Leopold (9,10)

Any surprises?
Not really - this one played out like you thought it might based on recent history.

Any change in the standings?

Jersey won, so the Pens are getting themselves behind the eight ball as far as winning the division. That could lead to a second round match up with the Caps.

Playoff seed: 4th (two points behind New Jersey)

Who's next?
Last home game ever at Mellon Arena against the Islanders on Thursday night.

Game #79 - vs Washington Capitals

Game 79

Capitals (52-15-12, 116 points) at Penguins (45-26-7, 97 points)

Why does it matter?
Pens. Caps. That's enough, isn't it?

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A tenacious comeback win over Atlanta.
  
• Capitals - Three straight wins amid a blueprint for defeat handed out by RJ Umberger.

Questions to be answered

• Was Umberger right? Will a team that bottles the Caps up in their own end have the upper hand? We won't get the answer today, but we will in about a week...
• Which PK will show up for the Caps - the one that has killed 9 straight chances over three games, or the one that allowed 6 goals over 16 chances during the previous four games?
• Can the Pens keep winning to keep the pressure on Jersey?

Keys to the game

• Keep your heads up. You know O-Face will be running around.
• Take it seriously - this is the last good warm up for the playoffs (the next three opponents are the Isles, the Thrashers and the Isles again).
• Get the puck deep and keep it there. The Caps, per Umberger, like to float and poach. Try ill advised passes just inside the blue line (Geno) and you're going to be chasing someone on a breakaway.

Penguins 4, Thrashers 3 (OT)

So what happened?

The Thrashers made some key mistakes, and it cost them two points.

Jim Slater took a completely unnecessary holding penalty with about two and a half minutes left in the game. I know Thrashers coach John Anderson didn't like the call, but there was no reason at all for Slater to put himself in that position. All he needed to do was shadow Leopold and maybe try to hit him after he touched the puck. He *clearly* grabbed him with his free hand and spun him around a little bit. Completely dumb, and honestly the type of mental mistake we've been used to seeing the Pens make. The Pens made them pay and tied the game at 3-3. There went the two points.

It was nice to see a team that turtles to protect a lead get burned by it. The Thrashers managed just 6 shots on net at even-strength during the second and third periods combined. They tried to trap it up and got burned by it.

Who scored?
Malkin (25), Kennedy (12), Gonchar (11), Leopold (8)

Any surprises?
Every time the Pens would score to tie the game, the Thrashers would take the lead right back. It was surprising that the Pens seemed to have a mini-letdown in those situations.

Any change in the standings?

Jersey won and Buffalo lost, so the Atlantic division winner is in the Driver's Seat for the #2 seed.

Playoff seed: 4th (tied with Jersey, but behind them by virtue of a tie breaker)

Who's next?
(To the tune of the Oreo commercial) O, O, O, Who's that dork with the stupid gold shoelaces?

He's coming to the Igloo on Tuesday. The Pens need to be ready.

Notes:

• Think they missed Sarge and Geno? Wow.
• Fleury had a nice game overall with several great saves to keep the deficit at one goal.
• Sid had a three point night and was a +2.
• Kunitz left the game with an injury and did not return. Hopefully he's okay...

Game 78 - vs Atlanta Thrashers

Game 78

Thrashers (34-32-12, 80 points) at Penguins (44-26-7, 95 points)

Why does it matter?
The Thrashers are playing for their playoff lives, and their schedule looks to be preventing them from getting into the playoffs. After today's game, they play the Devils and Caps before finishing up with the Pens again, this time in Atlanta. That means they'll be desperate to earn two points today. That's actually good news for the Pens, who need to find a way to match the intensity of their opponent. That has been lacking in their game for a bit now.

Also, the Pens are all tied up with the Devils with each team having 5 games remaining. They cannot finish in a tie, because the Devils would win the tie breaker (since they've owned the Pens this year).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A very lethargic effort against Tampa resulted in a shutout loss.
  
• Thrashers - Recent losses to Carolina and Toronto make it seem like they're not ready to get into the playoffs.

Questions to be answered

• What is the mental state of this team? Are they ready for the post season?.
• Will Geno and Sarge return? It looks like they'll play today.
• Which forward do you sit? Mike Rupp? Max Talbot?

Keys to the game

• Get into the game early. I don't know if a fight would help, or just hitting anything that has the puck, but they have to do something to get into it.
• With Sarge back, get some production out of the power play. The Thrashers have been excellent on the PK lately, so this will be a good test.
• Look for Sid when there's a chance to score. The Rocket Richard trophy would be nice.

Lightning 2, Penguins 0

So what happened?

If there was ever a game that was the definition of a "snoozer", this was it. After two nice rushes to start the game (one by each team), things were deadly boring. The key play was probably Craig Adams biting on a St. Louis pass fake with the Lightning on the power play during the first period. That opened up the passing lane for Stamkos' one time shot that he blasted past Fleury. That was all the Bolts needed, as they clogged and jammed things up the rest of the night.

Boy, you hate to see a team get rewarded for jamming things up for an entire evening. If every team did that, the NHL's ratings would plummet.

Who scored?
No one.

Any surprises?
Nothing would get the Pens going tonight. There was no urgency. That was the biggest surprise.

Any change in the standings?

Buffalo won and passed the Pens for 2nd in the East.

Conference: 3rd (one point ahead of New Jersey)

Who's next?
The Thrashers come to town for a Saturday afternoon game.

Notes:

• Letang missed about 74 shots on net.
• Fleury had a nice sprawling save on Bochenski to stop a two-on-one in the third period.
• I hate the Trap.

Game #77 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 77

Lightning (30-34-12, 72 points) at Penguins (44-25-7, 95 points)

Why does it matter?
Because it should be two points in the bank. The Lighting are playing out the string, they're not good on the road to begin with, and the Pens are in the driver's seat for the Atlantic division. If they win their remaining games, they will earn the crown (and either the #2 or #3 seed).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The first two games into the 6 game home stand have yielded four points.
  
• Lightning - They're not technically eliminated, but they sure are playing like it.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens stay up for this game? Allowing four goals to the Leafs at home on Sunday was not a good sign.
• Will Geno and Sarge return?
• Can we get some consistency on the defensive side? The goals against totals for the past while have been all over the map.

Keys to the game

• Take them seriously. The Lightning would love to make playoff teams unhappy, especially when home ice could be influenced.
• Get the power play onto the ice and then execute. This is a must heading into the post-season.
• Get Fleury some support. No mental mistakes like unmarked men in front of Flower or bad line changes.

Capitals 4, Penguins 3 (OT - SO - 3-2)

Missed this one entirely, so no writeup.

Just a placeholder blog entry.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Regular blog posting will return next week.

Red Wings 3, Penguins 1

So what happened?

Well that was an exercise in frustration, wasn't it? The Wings are back in full playoff mode, playing their subtle obstruction / interference game. If you don't believe me, all you needed to do was see Sid's reaction to Zetterberg at the end of the game. I don't think Sid (or any of the Pens) enjoyed that special kind of closeness that the Wings like to try to inflict.

Aside from that, the Pens certainly seemed unable to match the intensity of the Wings tonight. I know the Wings slow things down, but the Pens seemed downright lackadaisical on their skates at times.

Your biggest stat line of the night? Being out shot 13-8 in the third period, despite being down. That won't cut it.

Who scored?
Dupuis (18)

Any surprises?
I didn't realize it was 2008 again. It wasn't? It sure felt like the way the first Cup Finals went.

Any change in the standings?

Nah, but Jersey now has two games in hand and is only two points back. Not good.

Division: 1st (two points ahead of New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (two points ahead of New Jersey)

League: 6th (two points behind Vancouver)

Who's next?
In case you thought it couldn't get more annoying, The Great Ape is on the schedule for Wednesday. Gold shoelaces anyone?

Notes:

• What was the deal with the attempts to kill Filppula? It seemed like they went out of their way, as a team, to punish him.
• Flower made several really great saves, but two of the goals he allowed were of the weak variety.

Game #73 - at Detroit Red Wings

Game 73

Penguins (42-24-6, 90 points) at Red Wings (35-23-13, 83 points)

Why does it matter?
It's the Red Wings - even though Detroit is down a bit in the standings, this match up still has the glamor of being a Cup Finals rematch. The Pens, as usual, also badly need two points.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -Optimists would say 6-2-2 in the past 10 games. Pessimists would say 4 losses in the past 6. Realists would say 2-2-2 in the last 6 won't earn the #2 seed, so win the game!
  
• Red Wings - The old men seem to have finally heard the alarm ringing, because they're 8-2-1 in their past 11 games.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Wings be scored on when they're down a man? They've allowed power play goals in just two games since the end of January. They also don't take penalties much at all.
• Will Sid step up? He has been quiet lately.

Keys to the game

• Win the battles at even-strength.
• Find a way to get onto the power play and then crash the net like there's no tomorrow.

Hurricanes 3, Penguins 2 (OT)

So what happened?

The Pens took a 2-1 lead in the third period, but one poor decision by Fleury allowed the Canes to tie the game, and some serious disorganization in the final seconds of OT allowed the Canes to win it.

The game tying goal was noteworthy in that Fedotenko slid across the lane of the shooter (Pitkanen), which should have allowed Flower to stay up. He didn't, and the goal picked the top corner of the net.

The game winner by McBain was made possible when two Pens lost their sticks (Fedotekno and Orpik). Both went to pick them up, which was especially problematic for Fedotenko since his was in the corner. In that circumstance (less than 5 seconds left in OT), you'd like to see them each mark a man and take a penalty if they have to. They didn't, and it may have cost the Pens a point.

Who scored?
Staal (20), Malkin (24)

Any surprises?
The Pens managed only 21 shots in regulation (25 overall).

Any change in the standings?

The Devils continue to try to give away the #2 seed to the Pens.

Division: 1st (two points ahead of New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (two points ahead of New Jersey)

League: 6th (two points behind Vancouver)

Who's next?
The Red Wings on Versus - Monday night - in Detroit.

Notes:

• All three goals allowed by the Pens were preventable - the first saw Boychuk all alone in front of Fleury and I already talked about the other two. This seems to indicate the mental lapses are still there.

Game #72 - vs Carolina Hurricanes

Game 72

Hurricanes (29-33-8, 66 points) at Penguins (42-24-5, 89 points)

Why does it matter?
Another chance for two points, and another chance to keep the pressure on the Devils to win. Also, a chance to even the wins against the Canes, who have beaten the Pens twice this season.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -Glass half full - if you ignore the games against the Devils, the Pens are 6-0-1 since the break.
  
• Canes - Since the end of January, the Canes have been one of the better teams in the NHL.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens get to the power play? The Canes don't take many penalties, but they allow goals when they do.
• Will the same effort be there from the last game against the Canes, but with better goaltending this time?
• Will Geno play? He skated yesterday and might play. If I'm HCDB, I sit him one more game - you have Detroit and Washington as your next two opponents.
• Finally! Fleury got the shutout! I removed my long-standing question!
  

Keys to the game

• Stop Staal and Whitney. They always seem to kill the Penguins.
• Control the boards and dominate the offensive zone time. The goals will go in if the effort is there.
• Clean up the mental mistakes - again. This is an ongoing process - get the mind into the playoff mindset so you're ready when they arrive.

Penguins 3, Bruins 0

So what happened?

Fleury earned the team's first shutout of the season! Finally!

The Bruins simply didn't show up. There was the obligatory fight with Matt Cooke, and that seemed to be it for the B's. They only managed 17 shots on net. The best thing they earned tonight were the two Bronx Cheers in the third period when they finally managed a shot on net about 10 minutes in, despite being down 3-0.

The Bruins simply cannot generate much offense. Yes, they miss Savard, but remember, this team was not lighting it up with Savard in the lineup.

The Pens took advantage of a few bad decisions by Rask to take a lead they never relinquished.

Who scored?
Kennedy (10), Ponikarovsky (21), Rupp (13)

Any surprises?
I was surprised that whatever morons decided to award a star to Shawn Thornton (for fighting Matt Cooke) didn't give him the first star (he was given the third star).

Any change in the standings?

The Devils just lost in a shootout, so the Pens have pulled ahead again.

Division: 1st (one point ahead of New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (one point ahead of New Jersey)

League: TBD

Who's next?
A quick day off tomorrow and then back in action at the Igloo against the Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.

Notes:

• Doesn't Sobotka remind you of Scottie Upshall?
• Rask looked solid in net, but he made a few Fleury-like mistakes by going down too early on the Kennedy goal and being off his angle for the Rupp goal. It was so nice to see the other team get burned by those for once.
• The secondary scoring has really stepped up. Sid didn't need to carry the team tonight.

Game #71 - at Boston Bruins

Game 71

Penguins (41-24-5, 87 points) at Bruins (31-26-12, 74 points)

Why does it matter?
First off, ignore all of the nonsense about injuring players and payback. There might be someone that confronts Cooke, but the Bruins are trying to get into the playoffs. They're not going to waste significant effort on revenge.

The Pens badly need two points to keep themselves in the conversation for the #2 seed. Nothing matters other than that.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -Three losses in four games on this road trip won't cut it.
  
• Bruins - A 3-3-1 road trip has typified their play for the last two months - average, maybe even mediocre.

Questions to be answered

• Will we see Thomas or Rask in net for the Bruins? The Pens don't have any good recent history against Thomas in Boston.
• Can the offense step up against the normally stingy Boston trap?
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Get traffic in front of the goalie, no matter which one it is. These are essentially playoff games, so there should be some urgency around the crease.
• Ignore any nonsense. Just play with the same intensity that has been there for the last few weeks.
• Clean up the mental mistakes. This is critical going into the playoffs. The line changes we saw against Jersey cannot happen, or golf will be on the agenda sooner rather than later.

Devils 5, Penguins 2

So what happened?

If you know anything about the Devils and Pens this year, then you can imagine how this one went.

Yeah, it was that bad.

For me, it was over with two horrible line changes in the first period that led directly to two New Jersey goals. In each case, the last man back coughed up the puck as the rest of the folks were changing. It was a shame too, because the Pens played a good first period.

On one hand, it doesn't worry me much because you figure they won't do that in the playoffs. On the other hand, if they can't stop the mental mistakes when playing in a high-pressure game, then when will they be able to stop?

Who scored?
Kunitz (11), Fedotenko (10)

Any surprises?
Rod Pelley doing the unthinkable and taking a really stupid major penalty with less than 7 minutes left in the game. Devils don't usually do that. Of course, the Pens couldn't capitalize.

Any change in the standings?

This was a HUGE missed chance. The Devils are back in the drivers seat for the coveted #2 seed.

Division: 1st (tied with New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (tied with New Jersey)

League: 6th (tied with New Jersey)

Who's next?
Fight Night in Beantown tomorrow night.

Notes:

• I'd say the Pens missed Geno, but they doubled their previous high in goal scoring against Brodeur.
• Speaking of Brodeur, he certainly was beatable tonight. The Pens just couldn't get to the rebounds. They also made dumb mistakes that let the Devils take the lead and sit back in their trap.

Game #70 - at New Jersey Devils

Game 70

Penguins (41-23-5, 87 points) at Devils (41-24-3, 85 points)

Why does it matter?
As far as playoff seeding goes, this the most important game remaining on the schedule. The Pens can earn two points, while keeping Jersey from getting two, by winning in regulation. They could also get the monkey off of their back as far as the Devils go this season.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -The Pens have earned at least a point in 10 of the past 11 and they're playing well.
  
• Devils - Good, but not great, after following up the win over the Pens with a loss to the Isles. They won their last one, however, at home against the Bruins.

Questions to be answered

• Very simple - can the Pens beat the Devils?.
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Just one - win the game! Nothing else matters - keep it simple and focus on one goal - two points.

Malkin? Okay... Ovechkin? Confused

First off, Geno is day-to-day with a bone bruise. His x-ray was negative.

That's good news for the Pens, who will need Malkin at full strength for the playoffs.

As for Ovechkin (who was suspended for two games, if you didn't hear), my favorite part of the whole thing was this quote from Alex himself after the game, via Yahoo Sports:

"There’s nothing I can do right now. He just fell and this happens"

HE JUST FELL??? Really? That's what The Great Ape is saying? Please don't tell me this is a language translation thing - I'm not buying it.

Ovechkin is, without a doubt, one of the most talented players in the league. He's exciting to watch and brings passion and energy to his game. He also, without a doubt, seems to have trouble discerning where that line is that should not be crossed. I'm not sure if it's because he's an egomaniac (think "There is no line") or because he gets out of control and has impulse control issues.

We've seen Sid do things that would border on unsportsmanlike, and we certainly see him giving the little shots to players when he gets angry. He also takes over a game like no one in the game today when he gets mad. I can't ever see him playing with the recklessness that we see from Ovechkin.

I guess that's another way we can differentiate the two, to go with the previous criteria of the Gold Medal and Stanley Cup.

Penguins 2, Lightning 1

So what happened?

First off, the "hit" by Downie on Sid during the early part of the first period has to be one of the dirtiest plays I've seen in a long time. It wasn't so much a hit as it was a leg lock combined with a slew-foot move. Highly dangerous.

Now, the game itself, the Pens hung in there and kept battling. The Bolts were a desperate team who took a 1-0 lead and then tried to trap their way to a win. As a fan, it is always wonderfully gratifying to see that strategy backfire as it did today.

Effort and determination got the Pens their first goal with the third line crashing the net and Dupuis putting home a lucky bounce. The power play took over when Gonchar's shot from the point was screened quite effectively by Ponikarovsky, giving the Pens the victory.

Fleury (and the defense) withstood a late power play and some mad scrambling to earn the two points.

Who scored?
Dupuis (17), Gonchar (10)

Any surprises?
I never noticed that Ryan Malone wasn't out there. Also, Stamkos was mostly absent even when he was on the ice.

Any change in the standings?

The Devils went on to lose yesterday to the Islanders, so the Pens are back in front by four points.

Division: 1st (four points ahead of New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (four points ahead of New Jersey)

League: 5th (tied with Vancouver)

Who's next?
The biggest remaining game on the schedule - a trip to New Jersey on Wednesday. I think a win can go a long way towards earning the #2 seed.

Notes:

• Hopefully Geno isn't hurt. He took a shot off of his foot at the end of the second period and did not return.
• Fleury was great today when he needed to be. There were several saves of the highway robbery variety.
• I guess it is inevitable that GoGo is the one to sit. Right now, you need McKee's shot blocking and penalty killing, especially when Leopold can chip in offensively.

Game #69 - at Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 69

Penguins (40-23-5, 85 points) at Lightning (28-27-12, 68 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens need to get the momentum going in the winning direction and Tampa desperately needs two points to have a chance to get into the playoffs.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Brodeur. Blech.
  
• Lightning - Generally speaking, they're playing themselves out of a playoff spot.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens slow down Stamkos? This is his team now.
  
• Will the Pens' offense show up? The Lightning have allowed 4 or more goals in 7 of the past 9 (all losses).
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Get the power play going. The 0-5 performance in Jersey needs to be ancient history.
• Turn it into a shooting gallery. The Lightning usually allow more than 30 shots.

Devils 3, Penguins 1

So what happened?

Blech. I didn't want to think about this one after it happened, which is why this post is so late. I still don't want to think about it. Brodeur was really good. The Pens were outplayed.

Who scored?
Crosby (45)

Any surprises?
At this point, I can't say a loss to the Devils is a surprise. The Adams major, however, was a surprise. Still not sure why that was a major penalty, since it wasn't an icing.

Any change in the standings?

Dunno - will update after today's game.

Who's next?
A quick visit to Florida to play the Lightning at 5:00.

Notes:

• Brodeur outplayed Fleury today.
• The Devils would be a bad playoff matchup for the Pens.

Game #68 - at New Jersey Devils

Game 67

Penguins (40-22-5, 85 points) at Devils (39-23-3, 81 points)

Why does it matter?
There are two meetings left between the Pens and Devils. The outcome will go a long way towards determining who gets the #2 seed in the East.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Earned only one point last night in Carolina.
  
• Devils - Righted the ship with a win over the Rangers after an embarrassing road loss to Edmonton.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens solve Brodeur? They have tortured him in the past, but this season, the Devils have owned the Pens. Brodeur has struggled since getting benched in the Olympics on the way to a gold medal.
  
• Can the Pen generate enough offense to win? The Devils have gone back to full snooze hockey, allowing 25 shots or fewer in 7 of the past 10. The three they allowed more than 25? All losses.
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Goaltending. Fleury must out play Brodeur. It's as simple as that.
• Secondary scoring. The Devils will match up against Sid and Geno. The third or fourth line needs to crash the net, create havoc and get one behind Brodeur. Mike Rupp - this is your night.
• Stop Kovalchuk and Parise. Ilya has been reasonably quiet since coming to the Devils, but he and Parise are both dangerous, both at even-strength and on the power play.

Hurricanes 4, Penguins 3 (OT)

So what happened?

The Pens had a dominating effort tonight but were let down by their goaltending. I'd say that the first three Carolina goals were pretty clearly on the soft side. The shots do tell the story of the game, with the Pens on top in that department by a 40-21 margin. The Canes are lucky to get two points out of this, and I like what I'm seeing from the Pens. I think with Fleury in net, the Pens don't lose this game.

Who scored?
Staal (19), Guerin (18), Cooke (13)

Any surprises?
Is anyone playing better than Pascal Dupuis right now? He had two more points tonight and was all over the ice.

Any change in the standings?

No changes.

Division: 1st (four points ahead of New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (4 points ahead of Buffalo and New Jersey, 14 points behind Washington)

League: 4th (tied with Vancouver, Phoenix)

Who's next?
A big game tomorrow night against the Devils in New Jersey.

Notes:

• The latest sign of the Apocalypse? Geno was the only Penguin over 50% in faceoffs. Wow.
• Nice job by HCDB of rolling the lines and spreading out the minutes, given the games tomorrow and Sunday. Sarge was the only player more than a few seconds over 20 minutes.
• One of these days, a Penguins goalie will earn a shutout. I just hope it happens in our lifetimes.

Game #67 - at Carolina Hurricanes

Game 67

Penguins (40-22-4, 84 points) at Hurricanes (27-31-8, 62 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens control their own destiny in the Atlantic division. Every game is important to keep that #2 seed. This one also has the makings of a classic trap game with the big game against Jersey looming tomorrow night.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Perfect since the Olympic break.
  
• Hurricanes - The Canes were 15-28-7 on January 23rd. They're 12-3-1 since then.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens cool off the Canes? While they have lost two of their past three, they are perfect at home since the middle of January.
  
• Which forward will sit tonight? Right now it looks like Kennedy, who has a lower body injury.
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Stay off of the PK - the Canes have been hot lately.
• Not really a key, but it's tough to see Brind'Amour just playing out the string. He's playing less than 10 minutes per game lately and is a -24. I'd never begrudge someone the chance to earn a living, but you like to see guys go out on top...

Slacker!

I missed just about an entire weekend of hockey games (I saw about 10 minutes of the Bruins game). I have to say - it was a nice break.

You don't realize how much writing a blog can dominate your time. Even when you're not writing or watching games, you're thinking about the next thing you need to write, or figuring out how to work the weekend schedule so that you can watch hockey and still have a marriage (I am prone to exaggeration on occasion).

So, the break was nice, but as Roxette sang, it's over now. The Pens are off until Thursday when they open up a five game road trip at Carolina. I'll be writing about it.

Game #65 - vs Dallas Stars

Game 65

Stars (28-23-12, 68 points) at Penguins (38-22-4, 80 points)

Why does it matter?
Dallas is clawing at an outside chance for a playoff spot, so the Pens need to be ready for the early wakeup call.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Thursday was about as dominating as a 5-4 win can be. Seriously.
  
• Stars - Losers of two in a row since the break with just two goals scored.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens impose their will? Dallas has been doing just enough to earn points this season, with an NHL-high 12 overtime losses. That means they stay in a lot of games.
  
• Which forward will sit if Guerin is able to return? My money is on Mike Rupp or, if they want to rest him, Max Talbot.
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Win the game at even strength. Most of the Stars regulars are minus players.
  
• Don't let them hang around. Despite their "winning" record, this is not a playoff team that is coming to the Igloo. This should be two points.

Penguins 5, Rangers 4 (OT)

So what happened?

The Pens earned an exciting two points tonight, coming from behind to beat the Rangers. It was very satisfying to watch as a fan, after the Rangers spent the night taking the body every chance and King Henrik got into Sid's face to try to talk some smack.

The Pens just kept coming, and the Rangers had no answer. I think the Rangers should be embarrassed by their play in the latter half of the second period and the third period. They absolutely packed it in and were content to let the Pens come at them. The Pens outshot the Rangers 23-1 over the third period and the OT.

Great effort and tenacity by the Pens, who covered for Fleury. Flower hadn't played in 18 days, and it looked like it.

Who scored?
Kunitz (9), Staal (17, 18), Rupp (12), Goligoski (7)

Any surprises?
Not so much a surprise, but a welcome sight - the Pens power play is starting to look dominant. You almost expect them to score when they take the ice.

Any change in the standings?

Jersey didn't play tonight, and they have two games-in-hand, but the Pens are now back in first place!

Division: 1st (one point ahead of New Jersey)

Conference: 2nd (4 points ahead of Ottawa, 14 points behind Washington)

League: 4th (tied with Vancouver, Los Angeles)

Who's next?
The Stars visit the Igloo for a Saturday afternoon match.

Notes:

• Nice to see Christensen getting a chance to play some big minutes. I hope he does well (just not against the Pens).
• The more I see of Jokinen, the less I like him.
• I'm not sure which is more impressive - 55 shots for or 16 shots against.

Game #64 - at New York Rangers

Game 64

Penguins (37-22-4, 78 points) at Rangers (29-27-7, 65 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens need to continue to win to try to catch Jersey for the division lead (and the #2 seed). Improving the divisional record at the same time is an added bonus.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A solid effort against the Sabres on Tuesday night.
  
• Rangers - They earned a solid win in Ottawa the other night (without Gaborik) and are just outside of the playoff picture.

Questions to be answered

• Will Gaborik play? He didn't play prior to the Olympics and didn't play on Tuesday against Ottawa, but he DID play during the Olympics for Slovakia. With the Rangers trying to claw their way into the playoffs, I think I'd be unhappy with Mr Gaborik if I were a Ranger.
  
• Will the focus remain? It looked to be there on Tuesday - will the Pens be able to keep the intensity going? We have seen it, on and off, this season, but not for an extended stretch.
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Focus on the details. The Rangers, despite the last few games, struggle to score goals without Gaborik. Do the simple things and make them earn their chances.
  
• Dictate the pace. In winning three straight, the Rangers have allowed fewer than 30 shots. The Pens need to impose their will on the Rangers and earn good zone time. That means a good, aggressive forecheck and out working the Rangers in the corners.
  

Penguins acquire LW Alexei Ponikarovsky

Yeah, this is about 36 hours late, but it's going up here for posterity.

The Pens sent Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula to the Leafs for Alexei Ponikarovsky.

Ponikarovsky (typing that name is going to get old quickly) will jump into a top 6 forward spot immediately, given that he's been a consistent goal scorer for several years now. My guess is that he'll play the left side with Geno, but someone will have to play the right side on that line. Dupuis has been scoring this year, so I guess that makes him the most likely candidate.

Ponikarovsky will also shoot the puck more than some of the Pens other forwards (like Dupuis and Fedotenko).

I'm not too disappointed to see Caputi leave. He wasn't a top grade prospect (or he wouldn't have been included in a deal for a 20 goal scoring rental player). Skoula was simply the odd man out on the blue line and any little bit of cap space was helpful to Ray Shero.

The real question now is who will sit from this group of forwards, assuming no one is hurt. My guess is Mike Rupp or, if he's not playing well, Fedotenko (though we know Bylsma likes Fedotenko, so that may be less likely as the playoffs near). Any way you look at it, the flexibility is a nice thing to have, assuming it doesn't cause problems in the locker room.

Penguins 3, Sabres 2

So what happened?

Time is short, so just a quick recap. A solid, balanced effort led to two points at home. The power play looked sharp and scored a goal.

Who scored?
Fedotenko (9), Gonchar (9), Dupuis (14)

Any surprises?
Both Sid and Geno played less than 18 minutes. That's a good job by HCDB since they play three games in four days beginning on Thursday.

Any change in the standings?

No time to update, but Jersey won too, so the Pens are still second in the division.

Who's next?
A trip to MSG on Thursday to face the Blueshirts.

Notes:

• Gonchar notched his 200th career goal. That's a great accomplishment for him.
• Nice to see Johnson get a win.
• I think that was the most balanced lineup we've seen all season, and it's only going to get better when Ponikarovsky gets here.

Game #63 - vs Buffalo Sabres

Game 63

Sabres (33-18-9, 75 points) at Penguins (36-22-4, 76 points)

Why does it matter?
A tough game against a top conference foe. The Sabre's style of play is a good way for the Pens to get their legs under them coming out of the break.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens lost four of their last five before the Olympics.
  
• Sabres - The Sabres, despite their win over San Jose heading into the break, are just 3-7-3 in their past 13 games.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens turn it on heading down the home stretch like last season, or will Disco Dan's nice guy routine come back to bite the team?
  
• Will Sid continue his torture of Ryan Miller?
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Win the battle of the special teams - the Sabres have scored just once in the past 6 games on the power play.
• Faceoffs are key in a puck possession game, especially in the defensive zone.

Penguins acquire D Jordan Leopold

The Pens swapped a 2010 second round draft pick for Panthers defenseman Jordan Leopold today. You have to wonder what else is going to happen behind this. With the addition of Leopold, the Pens have 8 NHL defensemen, with none of them having an obvious injury. Maybe it's a hedge against future injury, given that the top two defense (Orpik and Gonchar) both played in the Olympics, but I think there are other moves still to come.

Are we going to see one of the young guys (Letang or GoGo) packaged with a pending UFA (Fedotekno?) to acquire a scoring winger?

Leopold is an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Just remember - "In Shero We Trust" should be emblazoned in the head of every Penguins fan.

The Upset of the Century

Okay, so maybe not quite that big...

Igloo Dreams advanced past the first round of the 2010 Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament, knocking off the #2 seed Pitt Blather.

Thanks to everyone who voted!

The Sweet 16 is running currently, and I'm up against One For The Other Thumb. I'll let you guess which team is the subject of that blog. Cotter has made a um... "special" promise to each and every one of you that vote. He made it for the first round, but I'm sure he'll offer an extension (or maybe it's the other way around...)

The voting for the Sweet 16 round will end on Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST.

You can vote here. Go vote!

Predators 4, Penguins 3 (OT - SO - 2-0)

So what happened?

Nashville is a good team and the Pens, while they played better, did not play a complete hockey game. They seemed to let up in the second period, and it cost them two points. Nice to come out with one, but there was another chance to get the lead in the division that was blown.

Who scored?
Crosby (42), Cooke (12), Orpik (1)

Any surprises?
Orpik scored a goal! The best part was that the shot was from the blue line and it was wide. It was only because Dan Ellis tried to stop it that it went in at all.

Any change in the standings?

One point is better than none.

Division: 2nd (one point behind New Jersey)

Conference: 4th (one point behind New Jersey)

League: 7th (tied with Colorado, Vancouver and Ottawa)

Who's next?
The Olympic break is here. No game for a few weeks.

Notes:

• As The Wife likes to say, Gonchar is The Man. He led the team in power play minutes, short-handed minutes and was second (to Orpik) in even-strength minutes.
• Dan Ellis was very good for most of the game.

Game #62 - vs Nashville Predators

Game 62

Predators (32-23-5, 69 points) at Penguins (36-22-3, 75 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens again can catch the Devils and tie for the division lead with a win. They can also go into the Olympic break secure in the top half of the playoff bracket (Ottawa is just one point behind the Pens). A win would make these next few weeks much nicer when thinking about hockey.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Too many holes in the D have led to losses in three of the past four.
  
• Predators - They're on one of their bad streaks, going 3-7-2 over the past month.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens take advantage of the Preds run of poor hockey? On October 24th, they were 3-6-1. Over the next several months, up until January 15th, they were 26-10-2. Since then, as noted above, just 3-7-2.
  
• Can the Pens win the special teams battle? The Preds have both scored and allowed a power play goal in 5 straight games.
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Use the forecheck. The Pens are up against a similar style in Nashville, built using a similar methodology. The game is going to the team that is more successful in establishing offensive zone time.
  
• Give the goalie some support. The Pens have allowed more than 30 shots for three four five straight.

Rangers 3, Penguins 2 (OT)

So what happened?

Yeah, I'm a bit late putting this up. That's what happens when you rely on a cable company for Internet service. If you have the option, go with Fios (wish I could).

What happened with the game?
Olli Frickin Jokinen. Again. This time he won the game in OT for the Rangers.

Prior to that, the Pens came out roaring in the first period and had several golden chances. Lundqvist was able to hold them to just one goal, and the Pens were out played (badly) for the rest of the game. It's like they fell into a comfort zone and were never able to get out of it.

They allowed a ton of shots... again (39) and the game would not have gone to OT had it not been for good goaltending.

Who scored?
Crosby (40,41)

Any surprises?
Sid was dominated in the faceoff circle, winning just 7 out of 20.

Any change in the standings?

Through Sunday morning:

Division: 2nd (two points behind New Jersey)

Conference: 4th (two points behind New Jersey)

League: 9th (tied with Buffalo)

Who's next?
The finale before the Olympic break against Nashville on Sunday (later today).

Game #61 - vs New York Rangers

Game 61

Rangers (26-27-6, 59 points) at Penguins (36-22-2, 74 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens can take the lead in the division with a win and a New Jersey loss. They haven't had the lead (or a share of it) since December 27th.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Beating the Isles too some of the sting off of the prior weekend.
• Rangers - Losing 8 out of 10 games is bad. Having it take you out of the playoffs is worse.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens win as a team? The defense is still allowing too many shots, and the offense isn't registering enough time in the offensive zone to give the D a break. Fleury carried them through the Isles game. It would be nice not to have to rely on the goalie to be en fuego.
  
• Bylsma's system is built around being aggressive. What happens if the aggression just isn't there?
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Stay within yourselves. The Rangers last four losses were by one goal, which says they were in the game but found a way to lose. Exploit that by playing simple positional hockey.
  
• Give the goalie some support. The Pens have allowed more than 30 shots for three four straight.

Pens acquire D Steve Wagner

The Pens shipped Nate Guenin to the St Louis Blues today in exchange for defenseman Steve Wagner.

According to the Peoria Journal Star, Wagner is an offensive defenseman. He is 25 and has played 46 games in the NHL over four seasons. He was an undrafted free agent who surprisingly made the Blues roster in 2007. According to stltoday.com, Wagner has struggled to regain his form after being sent down to Peoria and breaking his leg in 2008. Hopefully a change of scenery can help him, because he seems to have the offensive skills to play in the NHL.

Wagner is a UFA after this season.

Guenin is 26 and definitely a stay-at-home kind of guy on the blue line. He's also a UFA after this season.

At least it's not a deranged mini pony...

Last year, Sean's Ramblings had the first "Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament". Sean was nice enough to select this blog for inclusion in the list. He also seeded me 8th against the really popular Pittsburgh Sports and Mini-Ponies.

This year I'm seeded 7th, and up against Pitt Blather in the first round.

If you like my blog, go and vote!

http://seanramblings.blogspot.com/2010/02/best-pittsburgh-sports-blog-tournament.html

Penguins 3, Islanders 1

So what happened?

Couldn't tell you - I missed this one. Nice to see the Pens get the two points, for sure.

Who scored?
Kunitz (7,8), Malkin (21)

Any surprises?
The Pens allowed 38 shots, evenly spread over all three periods (12, 12, 14). That's still too many.

Any change in the standings?

Getting closer to Jersey...

Division: 2nd (one point behind New Jersey)

Conference: 4th (one point behind New Jersey)

League: 7th (tied with Colorado)

Who's next?
A rare Friday night game with the Rangers. Why did the NHL schedule games on the same night as the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics?

Notes:

• So close to a shutout for Fleury... yet so far.
• Only one power play. Not enough.
• Seems like the Pens were lucky to win this game. The rest of the numbers are not in their favor.

Game #60 - vs New York Islanders

Game 60

Islanders (24-27-8, 56 points) at Penguins (35-22-2, 72 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens need two points to tie New Jersey for first place in the division. The Isles need two points to get closer to the playoffs. Should be a good battle.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A disappointing weekend with losses to Montreal and Washington.
• Islanders - The Isles just snapped a 7 game losing streak with a home win over Nashville last night.

Questions to be answered

• Can the defense solidify? The Pens have allowed at least four goals in four of the past five games.
  
• Can the PK stone the Isles after allowing goals in three straight?
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Establish a quick pace. The Isles rolled their lines last night, but five of the six defense played 20 minutes or more.
  
• Give the goalie some support. The Pens have allowed more than 30 shots for three straight.

Capitals 5, Penguins 4 (OT)

So what happened?

Context is everything. If you asked prior to the game if getting a point out of Washington was a good outcome, I would have agreed, based on all of the things the Pens had going against them. After watching the game, however, it feels much less satisfying.

There is no way the Pens should lead 4-1 and lose this game.

Who scored?
Crosby (38,39), Staal (15,16)

Any surprises?
I thought the Pens could have done a better job of rolling the lines, especially while they had a lead for most of the first 50 minutes of the game.

Any change in the standings?

Two losses this weekend didn't help matters.

Division: 2nd (two points behind New Jersey)

Conference: 3rd (two points behind New Jersey)

League: 7th (tied with Vancouver)

Who's next?
A few days off, followed by a home date with the Isles on Wednesday.

Notes:

• This was a great game to watch - the intensity and effort were there.
• Fleury wasn't at his best, but the Pens have to start taking the man, not playing the puck, in the defensive end. Two Washington goals today were the direct result of the D trying to play the puck.

Game #59 - at Washington Capitals

Game 59

Penguins (35-22-1, 71 points) at Capitals (40-12-6, 86 points)

Why does it matter?
The Caps are the best team in the NHL right now. It matters because it's a measuring stick for the Pens.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - After a bad game yesterday in Montreal, the team had to fight some brutal weather to get to Washington. They didn't arrive at the hotel until 2:15 AM.
• Capitals - This team has the longest winning streak since the Pens 17 game winning streak in 1993.

Questions to be answered

• Will the Pens have tired legs given their schedule and travel arrangements?
  
• Can the Pens exploit a Caps PK that has allowed 7 goals in the past 4 games?
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Get through the initial burst. You know the Caps are going to come out smoking - surviving the first 10 minutes will be key.
  
• Standout goaltending. If there was ever a game when an unbelievable performance was needed, this is it.
  

Canadiens 5, Penguins 3

So what happened?

To me, the story in this one was the complete lack of offensive execution. I know the Habs had something to do with that, but 21 shots against a team that allowed 47 in consecutive games (and allows an average of 35)? Not good. If that kind of performance happens again tomorrow in Washington, they'll get blown out of the building.

Who scored?
Dupuis (13), Guerin (17), Malkin (20)

Any surprises?
Six minutes on the power play. One shot on net. Another surprise and disappointment all rolled into one bitter pill.

Any change in the standings?

It remains to be seen - too much action left to go today. I'll update after the game tomorrow.

Who's next?
Off to Washington (maybe - the airport is currently closed) to play the Caps tomorrow at 12:00.

Notes:

• I think the Montreal goal horn is now the most annoying in the NHL.
• The missed call of goaltender interference on the first Canadiens goal was so bad it was laughable. Easily the worst non-call I've seen all year.

Game #58 - at Montreal Canadiens

Game 58

Penguins (35-21-1, 71 points) at Canadiens (27-25-6, 60 points)

Why does it matter?
The Canadiens badly need two points to stay in one of the playoff seeds, and most of the teams below them have games-in-hand over them. It will be a good test for the Pens.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Since snapping their 5 game losing streak, the Pens are 9-5. Not too shabby.
• Canadiens - The Habs have won two in a row with Jaroslav Halak leading the way in net.

Questions to be answered

• The Habs defense has not been good. Can the Habs get away with allowing 47 shots to the Pens? When the Pens manage at least 40 shots this year, they are 7-1.
  
• Can the Pens take advantage of the Habs PK, which has been spotty of late?
  
• I'm still looking for a shut out from a Pens goalie. Can they get one? (this question is staying here until they do)
  

Keys to the game

• Get the rust out. The Pens haven't played since Monday.
  
• Roll the lines (again). Given that there will be another game tomorrow in DC, the Pens will need to try to keep legs fresh.
  

Penguins 5, Sabres 4

So what happened?

Sidney Crosby happened. He stepped up with about 17 scoring chances during the second period, finishing off three of them for another hat trick. The Pens allowed three straight goals in falling behind 3-1 and scored four straight to take a 5-3 lead. They then withstood one of the more memorable fire drills in recent months to earn two points (and keep the Sabres from earning any points).

Who scored?
Letestu (1), Crosby (35, 36, 37), Staal (14)

Any surprises?
They won! I know, it's bad to lose faith, but who didn't think they were screwed when the Sabres took a 3-1 lead? Maybe it was having to watch the game on Versus that clouded my judgement...

Any change in the standings?
Moving on up...

Division: 2nd (one point behind New Jersey)

Conference: 3rd (tied with Buffalo, one point behind New Jersey)

League: 5th (one point behind New Jersey, tied with Buffalo and Phoenix)

Who's next?
It's vacation time! Okay, not quite, but the Pens don't play until Saturday in Montreal.

Notes:

• Nice to see Letestu get his first NHL goal. I think he could be a good player in the NHL if he could get a little bit faster.