Penguins Fall to Senators, 3-2

The Penguins' concluded their 3 game road trip with a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on Saturday afternoon.

In a rather lackluster, 19-shot effort, the Penguins were done in by 3 goals by the Sens' premier assist man, Jason Spezza. Jordan Staal scored in the 2nd period for the Penguins and, after Spezza tallied his HT, Evgeni Malkin scored a shorthanded goal in the 3rd period to make it 3-2 and keep things interesting, but the Penguins got no closer.

That loss was the 2nd time the Penguins fell to Ottawa this season, and I have to say ... losing to a mediocre, one-line hockey club with an average defense -- at best -- like the Senators is getting old.

The Penguins didn't come out with their best effort, perhaps because it was their 3rd game in less than 72 hours. Either way, they were sluggish most of the afternoon, and Ottawa took advantage.

The Penguins are struggling with consistency right now. They've gone 9 games without winning or losing two straight in regulation. With OT wins and losses scattered in there, they are treading water, but it would be nice for them to put a 3-4 game winning streak together and establish some momentum.

The Rangers were shut out by Calgary last night, leaving the Penguins still 4 points back, with 4 games in hand. Our flightless birds will look to close that gap tonight on home ice against the Buffalo Sabres (7:30 PM EST).

NOTES:

It is expected that both Ryan Whitney and Marc-Andre Fleury will return to full practice with the team sometime this week. Still, don't expect either to return to game action until the end of the week -- perhaps Saturday afternoon against the Flyers -- at the earliest.

The Penguins recalled defenseman Ben Jovejoy from Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the AHL, after Hal Gill suffered a shoulder injury in the Senators game. Gill's injury is not known to be serious, so it's unclear whether Lovejoy was recalled to take his spot in the lineup tonight or simply be around "in case". Lovejoy has been the baby Penguins' best defenseman this year, ringing up a +14 rating. He impressed the Penguins with his consistency in camp and has obviously carried that through to his play in the American Hockey League this season.