One Week, One Step Forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins

As the Pittsburgh Penguins flew into Philadelphia a week ago for a tilt against the Atlantic-leading Flyers, the entire season seemed to be at stake, at least as much as it can be in the second week of January.

Last year's Atlantic Division champions and the Eastern Conference's 2008 representatives in the Stanley Cup Final were 20-19-4 following a somber road trip to Nashville and Denver that produced no points and further frustration.

As I chronicled last week, instead of suffering yet another loss in the franchise's traditional city of horrors, the Penguins seized the rivalry game as an opportunity to re-embrace the key to their success last season—team defense.

Let's not forget the Penguins surrendered the third-fewest goals in the East last year and were downright stingy in the playoffs as they went 12-2 before being humbled by the Detroit Red Wings.

Through 47 games this season, the Penguins have scored enough goals to win; their 2.98 goals-per-game average ranks ninth in the National Hockey League.

Unfortunately, whether it can be blamed on poor positioning, leaky goaltending, injuries, or a combination of these, Pittsburgh has tumbled to 25th on the defensive charts by giving up an even three tallies against per contest.

But while it's going to take a while to boost their defensive ranking merely into the mediocre range, a noticeable commitment to sound hockey principles like backchecking and strong play along the boards has helped the Penguins go 3-1 in the past week and rise back into the East's top eight, albeit tenuously.

Following the aforementioned 4-2 triumph in Philadelphia last Tuesday, the Penguins returned to the 'Burgh to begin a five-game homestand at Mellon Arena. Despite a 6-3 loss Wednesday against Washington, the Penguins enjoyed the better scoring chances through two periods before a relapse into loose play ended hopes of two wins in two nights.

With a host of regulars, headlined by captain Sidney Crosby and elite defender Rob Scuderi, out for Friday's match-up with Anaheim, the Black and Gold were able to piece together an airtight 3-1 stifling of the Ducks.

Grinder Matt Cooke chipped in a pair of goals, the Penguins stayed patient against a steady adversary, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made a handful of key saves to preserve the victory.

The excitement of two wins in three games was tempered by the fact that the Penguins had not won consecutive contests since mid-November. The New York Rangers were next on the docket on Sunday afternoon, a team that was 3-0 against Pittsburgh coming in, so it was evident that simply relying on positive momentum was not going to cut it against the Blueshirts.

As it happened, on an emotional day in the Steel City (the NFL's Steelers would play across town six hours later for a berth in the Super Bowl), the Penguins were thoroughly dominant against New York, winning 3-0 in a game that could easily have finished 7-0 if not for the outstanding goaltending of one Henrik Lundqvist.

Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes swing into the old barn on the Lower Hill just one point behind the Penguins and the Florida Panthers for the final playoff spot in the East. One can expect an all-out effort from both clubs as the All-Star break looms immediately following the contest.

When a team finds itself in the bottom half of its conference in mid-January, every game becomes a big game. In effect, the playoffs have already begun for teams such as the Penguins, Hurricanes, Panthers, and Buffalo Sabres.

It's a reality that must be embraced as a worthy challenge, not lamented as an unfortunate situation. The only extended break in the 82-game slate is awaiting just beyond tonight's action.

They'll need the rest for the sprint to the finish.