Another quality win

The Penguins are now 7-1 in their last 8 games, all of which have been played without Crosby, and most of which have also been played without Malkin. Do not underestimate the value of this team keeping up their momentum despite missing more firepower than some teams have in total. I like the scrappy nature this team is starting to show, and especially how they work together. Watching Craig Adams continually set up Max Talbot for the empty netter, despite the fact that he gets a goal himself about as often as the NHL makes an intelligent decision. Team unity. In addition, watching Johnson get a little payback on that dickhole Dipietro was a thing of beauty, and forever made him a favorite. An overall gritty effort by the squad tonight. Kennedy scores a big power play goal tonight, after getting some extra coaching from Disco Dan Bylsma, Kunitz pumps in his 18th of the season, and Talbot gets his 100th point of his career. Kunitz has 6 points in the last 8 games without Crosby as his center. Now that you add goal scoring to his gritty wall play and puck retrieval, Kunitz has emerged as a key component of this team. The Penguins stay within sight of division leading Philadelphia(trailing by one point), and among the top teams in the league, again without the luxury of ever really having their lineup intact this season. Michalek and Martin have become a huge part of this defense on this team, now amongst the elite defenses in the league. Martin chipped in 2 assists tonight as well. The positives of this COULD factor in during the playoffs given the fact that their big 3 centers will have less wear and tear than normal, the team has had a chance to see some of their younger players prove that they can contribute at the NHL level, and the team is learning to adapt to play without one or even both of their big guns, and WIN. If they can remain as diligent in their puck management and hustle as the big boys round back into shape for the stretch, then they can turn the dark cloud into a silver lining. In other news, the NHL proves again that even the blind squirrel finds the nut occasionally by rescinding the match penalty assessed to Jordan Staal for his part in Brandon Prust's academy award winning performance last night. Next up, Buffalo! Let the Big Dog EAT!