Pittsburgh Penguins: Lose Again, Mario Lemieux Speaks About Friday's "Game"

The New York Rangers came into Sunday's game against the depleted Pittsburgh Penguins having lost six of their last 10 games.

The best penalty kill in the league (88.5 percent) could not stop the Rangers from scoring three times on the power play.

The Rangers quickly fell behind after Deryk Engelland scored at the 2:06 mark. Nick Johnson extended the lead three minutes later and it looked like the Penguins might cruise.

Then the Pens began doing what they do: Taking penalties. And this time, their PK could not bail them out.

You can only play five on four so much before it will catch up with you. The Penguins have been the most heavily penalized team in the league this year.

When they aren't missing time because of penalties, they are missing time for injuries or suspension.

Matt Cooke and Eric Godard are both currently suspended. Godard is serving a 10-game suspension for leaving the bench to join a fight during Friday night's debacle against the Islanders.

The list of injuries continues to grow. In addition to superstars Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin, top flight players Mark Letestu, Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi have all recently appeared on the injury report. Tangradi was given a concussion in that same "game" on Friday.

At least more players were not hurt on Friday during all the extracurricular activities.

Speaking of Friday, Penguins owner and the best player in their history, Mario Lemieux, issued a statement about that series of unfortunate events.

"It was a travesty," Lemieux said. He would go on to say that hockey is a tough, physical game, but what happened on Friday was not hockey.

"If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to rethink whether I want to be a part of it."

Well said Mr. Lemieux, I don't think anyone wants to be a part of anything resembling that.

I know I don't.