Good Win tonite

These two points were very big tonite......coming off a five game west coast road trip and the Caps looming Thursday, this game could have been a trap game for the Pens........even though the Islanders were red hot at 7-1-1 in their last nine, I was very concerned that the Pens would give a mediocre effort and lose this one tonite. For the first time since I can remember, the two headed monster showed its formidible talent tonite, with Crosby getting 6 points, including two goals and Evgeni Malkin getting the hat trick. Add to that a power play that was lethal for the first time in, well, forever, and great goaltending early by Brent Johnson(as usual). On that note, you dont usually heap lavish praise on a goaltender who gives up 4 goals in a game, but yes folks for the second straight game the Penguins defense was EASILY that bad. I am not sure where to start, but I will say Eaton and Orpik were the rocks they usually are. Gonchar had two assists, but he gave one goal for the second straight game back to the opposition single handedly, and Jay Mckee reminded me of Josef Melicar.........for the record that is not a good thing. My main man Goligoski has looked pretty bad defensively since his return from injury as well. I hope that the Pens defensive zone woes can be corrected for this coming stretch of five games that includes for conference rivalry games with Washington, Philadelphia, New York Rangers, Ottawa and a matinee to end the month with the Red Wings.

Despite my concerns about the defensive zone coverage, and giving up another lead, the good outweighs the bad here tonite........Crosby's explosion, Malkins explosion, and the power play winning a game instead of losing it are all very positive things, as well as beating a very hot divisional foe sandwiched between a long road trip and a battle v the Capitals. On a sour note, the injury situation is getting ugly again. Talbot and Dupuis both left the ice with injuries tonite, and with Kunitz already out, the Pens could really be short on forwards for the upcoming push.