Had I known that prior to last night’s game at the Consol Energy Center that Tampa Bay had apparently been telling off-color “Yo Mamma” Jokes about the Penguins player mothers, insulted their wives and girl friends and, just for good measure, pissed in their Cheerios I probably could have predicted the ass whooping delivered by the Penguins unto the Lightning last night.  After all, who wouldn’t be upset after all that and take it out on the ice?

Ok, so none of that really happened, but believe me you, the thought about what the Lightning had done to cause the Penguins to show them no mercy last night crossed my mind just ten minutes into the first period with the score already 4-0.  In the end the Penguins would win 8-1 after a dominating performance against a team that is no slouch and leading the South East Division of the Eastern Conference.

Evgeni Malkin had a chance to do something very spectacular last evening as he scored right off the opening faceoff after intercepting an errant pass.  Tampa Bay won the draw but Malkin pushed forward and went in on goal uncontested.  He bobbled the puck and instead of scoring in an amazing five seconds had to settle for the ever so less amazing feat of scoring with just seven ticks of the clock gone.

It was an omen of bad things to come for Tampa Bay.

What followed was a clinic of scoring prowess even as the Penguins gave up a few chances in their own end.  After about eight shots on net or so the Penguins had galloped to a 4-0 lead with just 7:42 gone. Malkin (15), Conner (5), Kennedy (6) and Kunitz (11) lead that flurry but the team was not done.  To add insult to injury, Tampa Bay took a late penalty and Kunitz (12) added his second goal of the evening on the power play to set the score at 5-0 at the end of the period.

Letestu (9) added goal number six half way through the second and Kunitz (13) got his second career hat trick (his first with the Pens) with time running out and another power play being had for the Penguins.

Adam Hall (5) scored early in the third for the Lightning but Alex Goligoski (7) answered right back just a shade over a minute later to stretch the score to 8-1.  Pittsburgh tallied 41 shots on the night.  Tampa Bay had 32.

It wasn’t an easy time in net for Marc-Andre Fleury however as he needed to time and again make big and spectacular stops as the Lightning fought tooth and nail for a goal.  Meanwhile the Lightning played musical net minders all night.  Roloson started the game.  Then he was chased in favor of Ellis.  Then he was chased in favor of Roloson.  Then Roloson was again chased in favor of Ellis.

The win comes just days after the Penguins lost in the Winter Classic to the Washington Capitol on a rainy New Years Day night here in Pittsburgh.  And the Penguins looked like they wanted to reestablish themselves early in this matchup and show that that loss was more of a hiccup than anything else.

Today the Lightning are tending to their sores.  Hey, when you get screwed like the Penguins screwed them last night you are bound to have some sore spots.

Tonight the Penguins take on the Montreal Canadiens who are 21-16-3 and no slouch themselves.

After getting trounced by the Penguins on Saturday night, the Rangers wanted a little revenge. Pittsburgh put the previous game away with a third period explosion that New York just could not match and the Rangers got a little antsy, taking all sorts of foolish penalties trying to settle scores. Monday night however was their chance.

The Rangers strategy early seemed simple; shoot the puck from any angle on Fleury who was up to the task. But the Penguins had other plans along the lines of not letting the Rangers get even.

After a scoreless back and forth first period in which both Lundqvist and Fleury were on top of their games, the contest moved to the second frame where Marion Gaborik (20) scored early to put the Rangers up. But before the jubilation of the players and their home town fans ended Sidney Crosby (16) answered with a backhand shot and goal just ten seconds later.

Even though the second period ended in a tie with Rupp (6) scoring for the Penguins and Gaborik (21) notching another for the Rangers on a power play, you could see the blood in the water. In the third Pittsburgh needed only eight shots to notch another three goals and put the game away. One of those goals was by His Sidness (17) but the other two were all Michael Rupp (7, 8). It was Rupp’s first career hat trick in the NHL thanks to the empty net.

Rupp has long been known for his physical play and has been used in that role for years. But what is becoming apparent to everyone is that he has a keep nose for the puck and how to score too. He is quickly becoming a utility man for the Penguins playing everywhere and with anyone at various times throughout games.

While he and his fellow fourth liners, Adams and Goddard, have been turning heads with their aggressive play and almost scoring a number of goals making teams play them like they would a #2 or #3 line, Rupp has emerged as the current hot hand and versatile enough to do whatever the Penguins want of him.

The Rangers have struggled this season despite the addition of Gaborik and the loss dumped them to .500 on the season at 13-13-1. The Penguins however improved to 19-9-0 to keep pace with the Washington Capitals in the East. Thursday the Penguins return home to host the Colorado Avalanche who are 15-8-5 and in second place in the Northwest Division (4^th overall in the West).