The Penguins can sympathize with the New Jersey Devils who can’t seem to win a game as of late. The Penguins went thought a similar, and longer, stretch like that earlier this season. But that doesn’t mean that the Penguins would show the Devils any mercy. After a 6-1 drubbing last night at the Igloo that was all too clearly the case.

The Devils put up a fight at points during the first 20 minutes and after the Penguins stormed out to a 2-0 lead just 6:31 in to the game. Matt Cooke (11) and Bill Guerin (20) each scored 36 seconds apart to make that score happen. The Devils got a goal from Gionta (19) midway through the frame to halve that lead but it was all the offense they would muster as the Penguins added another first period goal from Malkin (24) and tallies from Crosby (30), Staal (21) and Kunitz (23) to put New Jersey out of their misery. Fleury made 24 saves and the Penguins once again nearly chased Brodeur from the net. It appeared the only reason he remained in goal was just to not allow the Penguins the joy of knowing that they had gotten to him yet again.

The victory propelled the Penguins (42-27-8, 92 pts) over Carolina in to 5th place in the East and just behind Philadelphia who also has 92 points but a game in hand. Had the Penguins beaten the Flyers last month when the two squared off at the Igloo they would be ahead of them. Pittsburgh won the season series against the Flyers 4-2 and holds an important tie breaker in the standings.

The problem for the Penguins is that despite their incredible streak heading into the playoffs they have failed to separate themselves from the pack in the bottom half of the east and hold a mere 5 point cushion over 9th place Florida whom they play on Sunday. But first they have a showdown with Carolina which can help keep them in 5th place. A loss would mean falling behind the Hurricanes and back into at least 6th.

I was certainly impressed with the Penguins 5 goal explosion in the third period against the Rangers on Wednesday. But I temper than feeling with knowing that I sat though a horrific second period watching Fleury keep his team in the game; a game they should have rightfully been loosing by two or more goals when the third period started.

As it stands today, the Penguins are 24-21-4 (52 pts) in the East with 49 games down and 33 games to go. If they want to make the playoffs they are going to need to get to at least 90 points and even that would be cutting it close. In all honesty, this team needs about 21 (42 pts) more wins to not just make the playoffs, but be in a respectable position heading into the playoffs and be considered a contender to return to the Stanley Cup Finals. That means winning 64% of their remaining games or getting enough points through ties, wins and OT losses to make 42 pts happen.

Can they do it? Well, in their last six they are clicking at 67% when it comes to winning and they certainly have some cream puffs on their schedule between now and the end of the season. But beating up on teams like Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders, the Maple Leafs and even the Los Angeles Kings isn’t going to be enough. They need to not only get the points, but do so beating the Devils, the Candiens and the Bostons of the league too.

This team has the talent. But they have to use it. Tonight they have to use it against divisional foes, the New Jersey Devils.

The story line out of the Friday’s game at New Jersey was all Marc-Andre Fleury as the struggling Penguins managed a pathetic 18 total shots on net for another poor offensive performance.  Fleury stopped all 37 shots he faced making the team’s lone marker by Fedotenko (9) at 12:51 in the second period hold up.

I guess I’ll risk repeating myself and say that the Penguins better find ways to get pucks on net because 18 shots will not cut it in the NHL night after night.  You cannot ride Fleury as hard as you rode him last night and expect to make the playoffs so it is high time someone on the team finds a way to generate some offense.

Sidney Crosby had no shots on net in the contest which seems to be a pattern of Sid not producing. Expect to hear lots of fans coaxing the team to, “SHOOOOOOOOOT!” a lot when they return home tonight to host the Montreal Candiens who are one spot ahead of them in the East.