Following a tough loss last week to Philadelphia followed by a complete collapse in the third period the next night against the New York Rangers, some Penguins fans were worried that not only was the streak over but that things were going to get bad fast. After rattling off wins like a hoarder collects junk, two losses in a row looked like a bad sign especially when that second one was the result of four goals not just in the last period but in the last ten minutes!

Pish posh! Some time to clear their heads and the Penguins have bounced right back rattling off back to back wins. First it was the Phoenix Coyotes who were … well … let’s just say the Penguins had their way with them darting out to a 5-0 lead by the end of the second period. The ‘Yotes didn’t even show up on the scoresheet until the last period when they finally found the next but that game was 6-1 when it ended.

After weathering a 16 shot storm in the first, Marc-Andre Fleury backstopped the Penguins effort and got goals from Kris Letang (6), Evgeni Malkin (12, 13), Sidney Crosby (27), Matt Cooke (6) and Chris Conner (3). That is a pretty good bit of spreading the puck around and Geno had three assists to goal with his two goals. Heck, with production like he has been having I say give him a week break to start every month!

Ok, sure Phoenix is in last place in the Pacific Division but they are a respectably above .500 team at 15-10-7.

Then there was last night against Florida. Florida is, unlike Phoenix, a lower tier team at 15-17-0 and the Penguins made sure to play like they are capable of rather than down to Florida’s level. Despite Florida scoring on their first shot to tie the game at 1-1, it never was close after that. The game ended 5-2 with the Penguins coasting thanks to goals by Letestu (7), Crosby (28), Cooke (7), Lovejoy (1) and the empty netter by Dupuis (8).

The game was so out of hand by the start of the third period that the Penguins decided to give Fleury, who had the night off up until that point, a period in net to get warmed up for today’s match against the Capitals. And that game is a real test. Washington is 20-12-4 and once again leading the pathetically weak Southeast Division. And nothing sets up the Winter Classic better than today’s game and the outcome of it.

Can the Penguins keep their new winning streak rolling? Sure they can. But they have to go through Ovechkin to do it which is never a small task.

Simon Despres, Pittsburgh’s first round pick (and 30th overall) in 2009, finally got some game ice time last night against Columbus.  During his just over seventeen minutes of playing time which included 3:35 of penalty killing work, Despres made a good case that he should be on the Penguins roster come opening day as their seventh defenseman.  The problem is, in all likelihood, is that he will not be.

At age 19 he will likely be sent back to the minors for some more honing and considering the other defensemen in camp likely to make the roster even putting him on the team as the seventh defenseman seems like a long shot.

Orpik, Goligoski, Letang, Michalek and Martin are locks for the starting roster.  The inside track for the sixth and seventh slots goes to Lovejoy, Brian Strait, veteran Andrew Hutchinson and Corey Potter.  So back to the minors it is most likely for Despres unless he can beat out three of those four.  And frankly unless he is going to be the sixth defenseman on the roster sending him down makes the most sense.

He needs playing time to further hone his talents and as a seventh defenseman he will not get it often enough if he stays in Pittsburgh.

Against a Columbus team stacked with young first round picks with worlds of talent Despres stood his ground with a mix of physical and smart play at both ends of the ice.  He faltered at times as any young defenseman would but his performance was solid and he was one the ice for two of Pittsburgh’s three goals (earning a +2) and had four shots.

If the Penguins want to make a splash Despres perhaps should get his shot to play full time but there are other players ahead of him that will get that chance instead.  Only if they falter does it look likely that Despres will get the chance he seems to be earning.

Hard to believe that the Penguins have been as banged up on the blue line as they have considering that they are sitting atop the Atlantic Division. It is almost like the loss of Gonchar, Letang, Goligoski and McKee, each for several weeks and at the same time, did not matter as players like (Dr.) Ben Lovejoy, and Deryk Engelland have filled in nicely and kept the defense sound.

Well, this morning it was announced that Lovejoy and Engelland are heading back to Wilkes-Barre and that means that unless some combination of Letang, Goligoski and McKee are ready to return to the lineup the Penguins would be short handed on defense heading into tonight’s important divisional match up against the Rangers.

Each of the three injured regulars, according to reports, are cleared to play which means the Penguins should for all intents and purposes be back to full strength this evening.

Now, about that struggling power play …