I have to be honest.  I gave up my tickets for today’s Pens game because I am going to the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field to watch the Steelers and Ravens take to the field.  I could have gone to both but decided that that was just too long of a day with a young child at home.  But that doesn’t mean I do not care about the Pens and their match up against the Rangers.

The Penguins have won two of their last three contests and, frankly, should have beat the Capitals.  But they failed to play 60 minutes of hockey which seems to be a common refrain from me these days.

The Rangers have climbed back to the Atlantic Division and the Penguins, who briefly held the #8 spot in the Conference have fallen back to #9 and desperately need a win today against a division rival.

The keys to a Penguins victory are simple.

First they have to not only limit shots, but limit attempted shots as well.  The Penguins are the walking wounded and the more shots they are forced to block because they are not pressuring the opposition, the more likely more injuries will occur.

Second they have to play with the same desperation they did against the Might Ducks.  They have to go after pucks and they have to hit hard.

Today is a good test of whether or not the Penguins have turned the corner.  A win would begin pointing me to saying yes.  A loss keeps me wondering.