Another amazing game last night. The Pens upended the streaking Thrashers 6 - 2 with strong play on offense, defense and in goal. It looks like the Penguins are running on all cylinders at just the right time of the year. Now tied with the Flyers at 84 pts, we are looking at (knock on wood) a potential first round series with our state-mates. While, thats a ways off the Pens just need to stay focused and keep winning games. More scenarios to come. Congrats to Geno on surpassing 100 points on the season with his 5 point showing. Speaking of Malkin...

The legacy of Evgeni Malkin's post-game interviews has become the high point to many Pittsburgher's game day entertainment. This is for two good reasons. One, they only interview Geno when the Pens win (so far) and two, he has such a, um, er unique way of putting things. Thank you Sarge for helping him with the English. Without Sergei's aid, none of these fantastic spots would likely be possible.

The St. Patty's night game was full of just about everything you'd want to see in a game. Your team winning in a dominating fashion, the defensive pair 2 on 1 for a Mark Eaton goal, Staalsy playing like a beast and controlling the puck as if his blade were glue, Crosby continuing to tally points, MAF making some huge saves, Malkin inches away from the hat trick, the penalty shot (even though it missed the net completely) and of course and good old fashioned hockey brawl!

LETS GO PENS!!!

The Pens finished strong tonight in one of the best games of the season with goals from Petr Sykora, Miroslav Satan, Evgeni Malkin, Max Talbot, and Sergei Gonchar who picked up his first of the season. Bylsma seems to be taking a more aggressive approach to our defensive and offense game that started to show in tonight's match-up made the team look like a playoff team once again.

The Pens were really working together and there wasn't really a star that stood out during the game tonight. It felt like the Pens were connecting passes, leading some decent offensive rushes, and coming up big on defense all night. The Habs were without Alex Kovalev, who was ordered to sit out a two game road trip, probably to heal up for Hockey Day in Canada. Carey Price probably should have sat out tonight too, since his injury he is 2-8-1.

Sergei Gonchar's presence is just what our defense needed at this point in the season. Since his return, he seems to influence the younger guys, and make the older players play harder to keep their spot. His goal tonight will certainly lift our slumping blue liners out of the hole the Pen's first half of the season has been.

Since that fatefull day back in September, Pens fans have long awaited the return of Gonch to the lineup.  Monday was another large step in the comeback.  Gonchar was cleared by team medical staff to participate in full contact drills.  Sergei has been skating for the last couple of weeks but this marked the first day he could get to building back his punishing physical style.

This news comes at a dire time.  We are on the verge of it potentially being too late.  As Sidney Crosby mentioned in an interview following the All Star break; "The playoffs start now for us."  The leadership Gonchar brings is noticibly missed as made apparent by the lackluster performances our talented D have put on.  Communication, commrodery and passion are the intrinsic attributes a playoff-bound defensive unit posess.  Sergei's influence isn't news to any of us, which is why he was requested to join the team in the locker room before he was even skating again.  Hopefully being on the ice and participation from the time tested star is just what our D needs.  The past few games have been absolutely dreadful for the defense.  Even when the offense is firing on all cylinders, giving up quick goals deflates any momentum we build.  It even makes Fleury look bad back there.  Sure it's taken Flower a little time to get back in the groove, but when they are practically inviting other teams to take position in front of the net, no goalie is going to look good.

Sergei's return has been a milestone on our minds throughout the season, now the end is in sight.  No matter what happens between now and when he's in the lineup again, we can be sure that he will give it all he's got.  A veteran leader like Gonchar can lead by example and help re-unite our defense to the calliber we've come to expect.  All we have to do is hope that we can play well enough to stay alive until then.