Pens lose to Buffalo 3-2

The Penguins dropped another home game, this time in regulation, to a very solid Sabres team 3-2 at the CEC last night.  The Penguins record falls to 3-1-2, which is .500 hockey if you look at it purely in terms of wins v losses.  I don't think that is a reason to panic though.  The Penguins have been in a position to win each of the games, they lost despite playing without Crosby and Orpik thus far in any games, and without Geno in half the games.  Add to that their crazy schedule in which they will have played 8 games in 13 nights in 5 cities and 4 time zones by the time they they arrive home for Thurday's tilt against the Habs.  Last night, some things to note for me.  Letang had his worst game of the year, adding little offense, and his turnover led to the 2 on none which resulted in Buffalo's second goal.  I am not worried long term about that either, the kid has been stellar for the most part.  Martin and Michalek still do not look like the 9M per year shut down defensive pairing we anticipated, but I think that they will work their way to that point soon enough, both are too good not to.  Tyler Kennedy needs to remember Disco's talk last year, about getting to the blue paint.  TK is generating shots, but they are all from the outside and right into the goaltender's crest for the most part.  I also think that  TK will get to his game and will wind up with 20 goals this season.  James Neal continues his torrid, league leading goal scoring pace, netting his fifth last night of off Robyn Regehrs stick to get the Pens to within 2-1.  After the Pens fell behind 3-1, Staal scored to make it 3-2, and Paul Martin almost tied it LATE off of a rebound, but Enroth who played a stellar game robbed him.  Listen, bridge jumpers, settle down...yes, the Sabres played the night before, and we had a chance to jump a "tired" team, but the Pens have played a lot of hockey and done a lot of travelling, and are missing what could be 3 of 5 players on an all star team.  Listen, Sullivan has been as advertised, a gritty smart player who will be dangerous on the power play and at even strength.  James Neal has shown himself to be the sniping power forward the Pens thought they got in return for Goligoski.  Once you get either Crosby or Malkin playing regularly, and if you are lucky enough to get both by end of November, this team is loaded.  Orpik's return should not be underestimated, nor should the depth value of Dustin Jeffrey.  100-102 points will put the Pens in the hunt for a top 4 seed in the playoffs.  If you take the 82 games and break them into 10 eight game segments, the Pens need 10 points out of each of those games, and you have two games to spare.  Despite their issues with health and travel, the Pens need to win of the next two against beatable opponents to be right on schedule.  Unless the hockey gods hose us  in the health department, this team will be fine.  Enjoy the ride!