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.

Last night the Pittsburgh Penguins brought to an end an important chapter for hockey in the city as the team played the final regular season game ever at the Igloo. The question now is how many playoff games will be seen before the final post season game is played there.

Facing off against the lowly New York Islanders, the stars looked align for a good night which started with commemorative tickers to all fans in attendance, then a ceremony celebrating all the great players who have skated on the arena’s ice and which fans hopes would end with a victory. Especially considering that there is still a chance for the Penguins to rise in the standings before the end of the season depending on what they and the Devils do.

Just 23 seconds in, Brooks Orpik (2) helped the Penguins stake out a 1-0 lead. At 5:01 Alex Goligoski (8) made it 2-0 on the power play. But the Penguins gave the Islanders a chance with a power play and the lead was cut to 2-1 just three and a half minutes later.

Evgeni Malkin (26) stretched the score to 3-1 with just under five minutes remaining but not even two minutes later the Islanders against scored to make it a 3-2 game. With just 58 seconds left in the first period however Sidney Crosby (49) notched another goal to make it a 4-2 contest.

Fleury, honestly looked shaky in net. When the second period resumed and with just about seven minutes gone the Islanders scored again to once again make it a one goal game and move the score to 4-3.

It took a while but the Penguins put the hammer down. Bill Guerin (20) added his twentieth of the season on the power play and two minutes later Mr. (Tyler) Kennedy (13) added another marker. When the smoke cleared at the end of the second, the score stood at Penguins 6 and the Islanders 3.

Bill Guerin (21) added goal number seven at 1:46 of the third and the Penguins cruised to a victory to put them back into a points wise tie with New Jersey in the Eastern Conference. However New Jersey holds all tie breakers.

Some people have been wondering when the Penguins, who frankly have looked like they were willing to sleep walk through the final month of the season were going to flip the switch and get serious after failing to put up much of a fight against teams like New Jersey and Washington. Well, honestly, it probably still hasn’t happened even though last night was a positive sign. And spare me please the stats about how the Penguins have won more than they have lost over the past thirty some odd days. Their record is not that good.

Since March 1st, by my count, this team is 10-5-4. Which is basically .500 in the win loss department when you properly count the over time and shoot out losses as what they are – losses. This team is 10-9. Not only are they 10-9 but the have lost to both New Jersey and Washington twice in that span. You know, important teams that they will have to face more likely than not come the playoffs?

But there were some good sings that this team actually has their fingers on that switch and are indeed ready to flip it and get serious. After a first period where the Penguins defense and goal tending (yes, Fleury is not playing well and highly at fault so stop making excuses for him about how the defense is letting him down) Fleury played like Fleury on a flurry of shots by the Islanders in the second where he had to stop three point blank shots. The last one he was badly out of position but still defending his net like the man that helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins put their boots on the Islanders necks after this and never let them get up. Again, another problem the Penguins have had is letting teams stick around and not putting them away.

Two games remain. And neither are cake walks despite them being against Atlanta and the New York Islanders again. The Penguins need to build momentum and win both. Not just to convince fans that they are ready for another run at Lord Stanley’s cup but also to convince their opponents that the Penguins are a threat to win against anyone, anywhere and any time. And besides, there is still the chance to finish even higher in the standing at stake as well.