Yesterday Chicago not only looked defeated, but played like a defeated hockey club racking up senseless penalties and allowing Detroit to pretty much have their way with them up and down the ice. All in all the Hawks took 16 penalties including three game misconducts as they self-destructed in front of the home crowd.

Now with the Redwings up 3-1 in the series and Pittsburgh up 3-0 over Carolina, both teams look to be on the verge of a rematch. When was the last time that happened? I think it was 76-77 and 77-78 when the Canadiens beat the Bruins in consecutive years.

However comebacks do happen. Although from what I saw out of Chicago, it would be more than a miracle for them to rise up and win the series which would spoil a rematch. More likely, yet still improbable, is for Carolina to find itself and beat the Penguins. But the odds favor another show down between Detriot and Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their solid play with a 4-1 victory of Florida Panthers last night that helped keep the Penguins in the playoff picture. After falling behind 1-0 late in the second, His Sidness answer 24 seconds later as Sidney Crosby on the next shift received an outlet pass from new Penguin Bill Guerin, took the puck, split the defense and fired the puck into the back of the net. After that it was all Penguins as they went on to score a total of four unanswered goals to win the game.

Kennedy (10, 11) scored twice and Kris Letang (7) added a goal as well. Fleury made 31 saves to earn the victory despite what was at times sloppy defensive play and missed opportunities by Florida.

Pittsburgh remains in eighth place in the East with 74 points along with the Rangers and the Panthers but both of those teams have a game in hand over the Penguins. Behind Pittsburgh, Buffalo has 71 points and two games in hand and Carolina has 71 points with one game in hand.

The game last night was by far one of the most entertaining of the season to the point where halfway through the second I really did not seem to care at all who would be victorious. The action was fast and despite the Penguins bulking up with some bruising players of the past few games with Kunitz, Adams and Guerin, they were able to move quickly and with purpose.

There is still a lot of work for this team to do however before the season ends if they want to make the playoffs.