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.

Looking at the standings today, then Penguins are still four points out of a playoff spot in the East. The question is can they make it into one of the top eight spots before time runs out?

Let’s look.

Ahead of them are:
BOSTON 50 GP 88pts 5-3-2 in their last 10
WASHINGTON 59 GP 79pts 7-2-1 in their last 10
NEW JERSEY 60 GP 79pts 6-4-0 in their last 10
PHILADELPHIA 57 GP 71pts 6-4-0 in their last 10
MONTREAL 60 GP 69pts 3-6-1 in their last 10
FLORIDA 59 GP 68pts 7-3-0 in their last 10
BUFFALO 60 GP 68pts 5-4-1 in their last 10
NY RANGERS 60 GP 68pts 2-6-2 in their last 10
CAROLINA 60 GP 65pts 6-4-0 in their last 10

The Penguins are 64pts with 22 games remaining and are 5-4-1 in their last 10.

Let’s look at teams last 10 games played as an indication as to how they are playing right now and down the stretch. If we take that as an indication of how each team will play until the end of the season the standing would look like this:

1 BOSTON*
2 WASHINGTON*
3 NEW JERSEY*
4 PHILADELPHIA
5 FLORIDA
6 BUFFALO
7 CAROLINA
8 PITTSBURGH

With Pittsburgh just getting in with 88pts. Of course this is simplistic. The Penguins while 5-4-1 in their last 10 have played well enough to be better than than and Montreal and the Rangers will likely not both continue to slump as badly as they have been which is what opens up the last two slots for Carolina and Pittsburgh. If one of those teams gets hot it makes the Penguins chances more remote.

It isn’t over yet but the Penguins need a win today against Washington to keep the fat lady on the bench from warming up.