Penguins Look "Sharp"

Before we dig in deep for the NCAA basketball tournament over the next three weeks, I wanted to quickly address the Penguins and how they have played since returning from the Olympic break. Stealing a word from the women over forty dictionary, the Penguins have looked “sharp” since returning from the two-week break. The Pens have gone 5-1-1 in the seven games back, overtaken the Devils for the division lead, and have a two point lead over New Jersey heading into a very interesting back to back the next two nights.

The Penguins lone regulation loss in their past seven games came to the Devils of course, who have now beaten the Pens in all five games this season. This sets up a big showdown in New Jersey tonight. It is safe to say that the Penguins could use a win tonight against the Devils not only for the division race, but for their own psychological well-being. Tomorrow night, Crosby and company will take on the Boston Bruins in what should be a very emotionally charged game after Matt Cooke’s concussion-producing hit on Bruins’ star Marc Savard in their last meeting. These two games are no bigger than any other on the schedule the rest of the way, but I am sure they will have a different feel as a ton of emotion should be involved in both.

The acquisitions General Manager Ray Shero made at the trading deadline, defenseman Jordan Leopold and left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky, have blended in very nicely on the roster. Leopold is a plus five in a Penguins uniform during the seven games he has played, providing steady play along the blue line and a good ability to move the puck. Ponikarovsky has three points in five games and seems to be settling in nicely among the Penguins’ top two lines. As I said at the deadline, the Penguins got better with these two acquisitions as they fit in perfectly with the rest of the Penguins’ roster.

The Penguins have survived a couple of injury scares as Sidney Crosby escaped unscathed from an awkward hit from behind last week and Evgeni Malkin is only expected to miss a few games after being hit with a shot on his right foot against the Lightning. The Pens, for the most part, are the healthiest they have been all year and are well equipped for the stretch run leading up to the playoffs.