Penguins take a big two points in Detroit

Not sure how to view the game tonight. The positive view is as follows. With 9 games left the win leaves the Pens with 92 points and Divisional and Conference titles still possible. They went on the road, against the second best team in the tough western conference, playing back to back games, without yet another key player, coming off a tough loss and WON! The negative view is that the Penguins AGAIN lost a big lead due to bad discipline and a LOUSY power play, extending an ugly trend this season, but luckily snuck out with two points. It is a little bit of both actually. I hate seeing the team give up 3 unanswered goals in the third period, especially since they have done it before. That said, the Pens were coming off a tough loss yesterday afternoon, on the road, controversy surrounding the team over the Cooke incident, and down Cooke, Crosby, Malkin, Orpik, and Letestu. They had a goal disallowed, watched a four goal lead evaporate, but carried play late in the third and in OT instead of folding as they easily could have. At any rate, James Neal blistered a nasty wrister past Joey McDonald to give the Pens a much needed two points, and setting up a big game Thursday against the Flyers. Some notes and thoughts from the game:

The Penguins power play is so far beyond pathetic, it should be someone's job. They are 2 for their last 53 now, and they are rarely even a threat;

Much maligned Pascal Dupuis had 2 goals and an assist tonight, not bad for a guy that everyone had written off;

Kris Letang got only his 2nd assist in 14 games, and lost his composure in the third period. The kid who was in the conversation for the Norris a month or so ago has fallen on some HARD times;

Chris Kunitz, that winger most yinzers think should not be on a first line has 22 goals despite missing 15 games, and has been a monster since his return from injury without Crosby to set him up. Add goal scoring to his puck retrieval and forecheck, and you have a pretty nasty first line winger;

Jordan Staal chipped in two more assists, giving him 10 goals, 15 assists, and 25 points in 34 games for a .735 points per game average, not bad for a second line center to be;

Tyler Kennedy added his 17th goal of the year, and has also been a guy who has stepped up his game with the stars out;

The Penguins got short handed goals in each of their past two games;

If you don't think Matt Cooke is important to this team, know that the Penguins number one PK unit has given up 4 power play goals in the three and a half periods he has been out of the lineup;

The site of Alex Kovalev skating lazily around makes me want to punch his face in;

I was hoping to see much more from Asham, a guy I really like, but he was invisible outside of the questionable interference call on the Craig Adams goal that was disallowed;

The Penguins magic number for clinching a playoff spot is down to 4. Any combination of Pittsburgh getting 4 points or Carolina losing out on 4 possible points and the Penguins clinch a playoff spot. LETS GO PENS!!