Thank Heavens For Atlanta: Pens' Beat Thrashers Again, 3-1

There's no truth to the rumor that the Penguins have petitioned the National Hockey League to be moved to the Southeast Division where they would play the Atlanta Thrashers 6 times per year, rather than 4.

It's too bad, because Atlanta are one of the few teams that the Penguins seem to be able to beat lately.

Last night, the Penguins beat the Thrashers again, 3-1, to end a five game losing streak overall, and a five game slide at home. They have prevailed over Atlanta in each of their 3 contests this season so far.

Not only that, the Penguins scored not one, but TWO power play goals, ending a seven-game slump with the man advantage.

RW Petr Sykora scored one of those goals, including the first of the game on a set deflection from Ryan Whitney. Sykora also scored the second goal, an even-strength marker, after center Evgeni Malkin -- who finished with 3 assists on the night -- won a faceoff cleanly, stepped around his man, took the puck to the goal and slid it across the crease to Sykora. He took the puck wide on his backhand and tossed it by Thrashers' netminder Kari Lehtonen.

Center Sidney Crosby scored the Penguins other goal, their 2nd PPG of the contest, and his first power play goal in about 25 games, on a deflection from a Malkin point shot.

I still can't believe he has gone that long without scoring one. Malkin has to get one next because it's been about 21 games (and counting) for him.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored for Atlanta with about 5 minutes to go, but the game was a foregone conclusion at that point. Marc-Andre Fleury closed it out with 27 saves, and looked much better doing it than he has in the last few games.

Although Atlanta had been struggling and was without one of their better players, leading goal-scorer David Little, going into the game last night, the Penguins deserved the win. They worked harder, showed more desperation, and just played better. Their skill players stepped up, and their goaltender stepped up.

They also showed some leadership, with veteran Petr Sykora doing his part to give the Penguins a win and help break their slump on the power play. Even Ruslan Fedotenko -- not known for his fists -- showed some leadership when he dropped the gloves with former Penguin Colby Armstrong a little over than one minute into the game. Although Fedotenko, in only his second career fight, got the better of Armstrong in a very short bout, it could have been costly, as he may have broken a bone in his right hand while connecting with a punch to Army's nose.

Fedotenko may have been one of the only guys on the Penguins' team Armstrong actually would have dropped the gloves against.

Speaking of injuries, Pascal Dupuis also left the game with an unspecified injury.

The Penguins can ill afford to have more guys go out of the lineup. Both Fedotenko and Dupuis are important to the Penguins because they provide at least some scoring depth to a team that has had a hard time getting on the board lately. Fedotenko, in particular, has been about the Penguins only bright spot the last 2-3 weeks. If he's out for an extended period, it will hurt.

The Penguins next game is Thursday, on the road against the Nashville Predators -- a place the Penguins have not fared well recently. It's important they come out strong in that game. Winning against Atlanta won't boost their confidence any more than temporarily unless they can string several wins together. They've been relatively good on the road this season, all things considered, so we'll see how they come out for that one.

I'll post my mid-season analysis of the team tomorrow.