Penguins Hit Rock Bottom in 6-1 Home Loss to Panthers?

This is what it has come to for the Penguins:

They are tonic for the Florida Panthers.

With today's 6-1 home loss to a Panthers team that hadn't won in 4 games, and the Buffalo Sabres' road win over the Boston Bruins (yes ... those same Bruins that looked like the best team in the league in smacking the Penguins around the last 2 games), the Penguins have fallen out of the playoff field and into 9th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins were awful today.

They can't score goals (6 goals in their last 8 games).

They can't stop them (Fleury started today, was pulled for Sabourin to start the 2nd period after giving up 2 in the opening frame, then Sabourin was pulled to start the 3rd after giving up 3 goals himself in the 2nd period).

Their special teams are terrible (no power play goals in the last 6 games/24 attempts, and 2 more power play goals against today).

Their goaltending is poor (see "they can't stop them", above).

Did I miss anything?

The Penguins frustrations boiled over in the 2nd period when they started 2 fights off consecutive faceoffs in the 2nd period looking for a spark. Max Talbot went toe-to-toe with Panther forward Gregory Campbell in the first one. Sidney Crosby, the Penguins' captain, started the 2nd one, and really worked over Brett McLean, dragging him around and bloodying his nose. He sat for 19 minutes because of it, but showed some leadership in trying to jump start his club.

Frankly, I'm surprised it took the Penguins this long to lose it in a game. With things being as bad as they have been, it's a wonder they didn't blow their tops sooner. In fact, they should have done even more of that kind of thing. With the game out of hand already, they had little to lose. Sure, you don't want your best player doing it, but at least you could see the passion in him. Unfortunately, you can't say the same for so many of the other Penguins, who appear lost and despondent on the ice a lot of the time. They are extremely fragile as a group and can't get over the hump, especially at home.

I've said it before --- the Penguins and their fans (me included) aren't used to this. It's been years since the team has gone through such an ugly stretch. To the contrary, it's been nothing but success for this group the last few years. This is the first true test of character these Penguins have had. Right now, they're failing that exam miserably. Worse, there's no sign they're going to come out of things anytime soon. Even one win won't do a great deal. It will stem the tide, but unless the Penguins can put a string together, their collective confidence isn't going to be a strength for them anytime soon.

It's getting to the point now where you start to look to the GM to stir the pot. At least I do. I don't believe in pushing the panic button, but I don't think making a move at this point is panicing. The current group of players haven't shown they can do the job. There are things the team is notably missing -- even if the Penguins weren't playing so poorly. They aren't physical enough and are missing passionate players. The mix is just wrong. If the Penguins want to have any chance to make the playoffs and do well, they need some changes.

Aside from that, a trade would send a message that the performance of the current group is unacceptable. That should be obvious, but the players don't seem to be getting it.

We'll see if they do before their next game .... Monday against the Rangers in Madison Square Garden (7 PM, Versus).

Good news. They get to show off what it's like to hit rock bottom to a national tv audience.