Jordan Staal has shown signs of inconsistent promise on the ice this year. He had a hat trick against the Red Wings and then a short spurt of productivity but really has not been a regular on the scoring sheet. Now he has a new 4 year contract for millions and maybe that was all that was holding Jordan back. Since that contract was announced Jordan Staal has goals in three consecutive games including a short handed marker, something he did with frequency his rookie year but not so much of since.

Let’s hope that Jordan can keep up the production and make me truly believe he is worthy of the $16 million contract he has been rewarded with. Because really the way that he has played I believe only warranted about a $12 million commitment ($3 million per year) at most. I would love to be proven wrong though.

Perhaps it was the fear of seeing a fan show up with a paper bag over his head for tonight’s game against the Capitals. Perhaps it was the shame that they would be exposed to from the guy in Section F with the sign denoting the Penguins horrific power play as of late. Or maybe they just decided to actually play hard for 60 minutes against a good team.

Whatever the case, the Penguins put together the most impressive performance this writer has seen in a more than a month against divisional foe Philadelphia. From the opening puck drop through the final horn the Penguins dominated play at both ends of the ice. Despite falling down 1-0 on a goal scored from the luckiest of lucky bounces with Fleury behind the net trying to play a puck that jumped over the net and right into the empty crease, there wasn’t even a contest as the Penguins got contributions from nearly their entire lineup. Goals from Kennedy (7), Malkin (17), Staal (14) and Cooke (5) powered the Penguins to a desperately needed 4-2 win on a night where I was at times tempted to switch over to American Idol to see how many people were making fools of themselves this year.

Fleury faced 29 shots and made 27 saves, rarely being seriously tested as the Penguins implemented a vice like trap that stymied the Flyers in front of their home crowd.

Therrien also moved Cooke to the Crosby/Malkin line and provided grit to spare as he hunted down pucks leaving Dupuis return to that line in jeopardy IF Cookie continues to play like he did last night. Cooke has the right temperament to play on the first line but so does Dupuis and Fedotenko (when he returns) so there may be some more juggling to follow on the top line if Cooke falters. But that gives him a lot more motivation to play hard each and every game I think.

However I will temper my joy at watching a fine performance by the Penguins with the knowledge that one game does not a turn around make. Yes I have hope. But I also have a fear that this may be nothing more than a flash in the pan for a struggling team. Tonight against the Capitals will be another test to prove that the team has turned the corner and it is going to take more than one win for me to get overly excited.