Some people will say that, “A win is a win.” I say that any “win” against the hapless Atlanta Thrashers deserves an asterisk next to it. Especially after the performance of the Penguins over the past couple weeks and that said asterisk should only be removed if the team shows that they have finally learned how to play hockey as a team and do the basic things that are required to at least be competitive in the NHL.

Finding anything to praise the Penguins for by posting a win against the Thrashers (13-23-5) is like saying Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux are still great hockey players because they were able to beat up on the local youth mites hockey club. Something more tangible is required to warrant any praise.

If anything, the game against the Thrashers still raised the same concerns that I have been raising for a while ranging from the inability of the team to put together a solid performance for 60 full minutes to players that are not playing up to their potential (i.e. Satan). Sure the Penguins won 3-1 but they played hard for only about 45 minutes, letting up noticeably in the third period to coast to a victory.

One bright spot is that the Penguins did finally crack their drought on the power play, notching two markers with the man advantage. But then again I have to preface that by reminding everyone that this was the Atlanta Thashers the Penguins were playing after all. Although the power play did not start out well.

A fan in section F had posted a sign reading clearly “0-32,” a stark reminder to the Penguins players that they were not doing very well at all. After an early power play failed to score and a chorus of boos rained down onto the ice, the sign was promptly changed to “0-33” the crowd cheered the bold fan for making sure that the players knew they were being watched.

Marc-Andre Fleury turned in a solid performance and moved well in the crease stopping 27 of 28 shots, Sykora (14, 15) had another two goal game and Crosby (16) scored to show all those who voted him into the All Star Game that he could still find the net.

But before the Penguins deserve any praise at all for finding their stride against a cellar dweller like Atlanta, let’s see how they do against Nashville, Colorado and Philly before returning home to play the Capitals.