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Pittsburgh Penguins Once Again Step Up In Big Way

By FS Staff

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 19: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) and goaltender Matt Murray (30) at the end of a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 19, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 19: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) and goaltender Matt Murray (30) at the end of a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 19, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Penguins season continues to be a roller coaster ride, and that is exemplified in these first two games returning from the break.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, they saw a great opportunity when they took the ice against the New Jersey Devils, an opportunity to build some much needed momentum in a three game home stand as they returned from the break. The Devils had other plans, and the Penguins ultimately fell by a final score of 6 to 3, a game that they needed to forget.

And while I could be wrong, I am pretty sure they did a great job of that, as the performance they displayed last night against the Lightning was one of the top this season. You could even argue it was their best showing since their victory over Washington in December that started the long win streak.

If you look at the stats, it is not necessarily the best of numbers, as the Penguins were beat in many categories, but at the end of the day they won the one that mattered. The Pens put up four goals in only 22 shots, and it backs what Coach Sullivan has been saying all season for Pittsburgh, in that it is not the quantity of opportunities, but the quality that counts.

We all know that Pittsburgh can play a high quality of hockey, we have seen it countless times this season. The only troubling thing is this continued inconsistency that the Pens tend to show. They have some time to straighten that out, as the playoffs are still a ways away, but it is something that they will need to do.

Overall, Pittsburgh is in good shape. When you have a players like Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang on your team, how could you not? Ottawa is next for Pittsburgh, where the Pens will look to finish the homestand 2-1.

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