Split in Stockholm: Pens Lose Game 2, 3-1

This won't be a long post, because yesterday's 3-1 Penguins loss in game 2 of their 2-game Stockholm set against the Ottawa Senators can be summed up by pointing primarily to one area that cost the Penguins the game:

The power play.

With 7 more chances yesterday, the Penguins -- for all intents and purposes -- came up empty again. Defenseman Alex Goligoski broke the shutout bid of the Senators and goalie Alex Auld by scoring a power play goal on a laser from the slot with 1 second left in the game, but when it mattered most earlier in the game, the Penguins couldn't convert with the man-advantage for the 2nd game in a row.

They definitely aren't getting enough shots on goal, and that has to change.

On the Senators side, they got a much better performance in the net from Auld when compared to the guy who tried to impersonate an NHL goaltender the night before. He was there for Ottawa when they needed him to be. Behind his play and the 2 power play goals they got from Dany Heatley, they were in control most of the game.

See what a power play that produces can do for you?

The Penguins have some time to work on the PP in practice before their next game, and they'll need it. I'm sure it's something they'll be chewing on during the long flight home from Sweden today before they next suit up on Saturday for the home opener against the New Jersey Devils.

It also would be nice to get Satan going a little bit. He has been quiet. Even Crosby was a little quiet during the first few games. I'm sure he and Satan are feeling each other out still, but hopefully, that won't take too long. Coach Michel Therrein spent a lot of time mixing and matching the lines yesterday in an effort to jump-start the offense, so that didn't help the cause. But we'll see what combinations he goes back to in practice this week.

All in all, the Penguins return from Sweden with the record I expected: 1-1. It isn't easy to sweep teams in a back to back set these days (although the Rangers did it to the Lightning in Prague this past weekend in their opening set there, winning both games 2-1). Let's hope the Penguins can make some headway during their next 4 games, which will be at home.

More later this week. I keep hearing more linking the Penguins to a possible trade for Minnesota star winger Marion Gaborik .......