The Pittsburgh Penguins once again played with fire, but were able to pull off the victory yesterday against a Rangers team that gave it their all.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had such an up and down type year this season, that we almost never know what we should expect from this team. Yesterday, against the Rangers, it looked like the Pens were going to drop their second straight game, after losing to Calgary the game prior. If the Pens had not pulled off the victory, they would have been in 5th place in the Metropolitan Division, so to say the game was important would be an understatement.
The game saw some standout performances by a couple players. Both Malkin and Letang finished the game with a pair of goals each, and Crosby also put up three assists in the game. The first time these two teams met, it was a completely different story, as the Penguins would beat them with ease, ultimately ending in a score of 7-2.
The next few weeks are going to be extremely important for the Penguins, as it seems that everyone in the Metropolitan is winning. Most notably the recent play of the Flyers and Hurricanes, both of which have been playing tremendously as of late. The assumption that the Penguins will be able to reach the playoffs is one that can not be made like it used to.
If Pittsburgh wants to feel more comfortable about where they are at, they are going to have to start to step it up soon. After tomorrow’s game, they have a brutal three game stretch, and they need to be ready to go for that slate of games. While this is an exciting time in Pittsburgh, it is also a tense one, and the Penguins are going to really have to fight to get a playoff spot.