87 + 1 = 9

I was actually a math minor in college. Even if you wouldn't know it from the title of this blog entry.

Yes, folks, this is the new math.

Last night at Mellon Arena against the Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked at first as if they were trying to replay their game from 2 and 1/2 weeks earlier against the Phoenix Coyotes, where they looked disinterested and flustered in losing their only game on the season, 3-0.

Steve Reinprecht staked Florida to an 2-0 first period lead last night, and the Panthers had Pens' backup goaltender Brent Johnson -- who last played against the Coyotes -- again under seige.

But unlike the game against the Coyotes, the Penguins displayed that new math last night. Thanks to Sidney Crosby (#87) and Johnson (#1), Pittsburgh turned things around and prevailed 3-2 in a shootout for their franchise-record ninth win in October (9).

It also was their 7th straight victory.

The Penguins started getting their legs under them in the 2nd period and ultimately, tied the contest in the third on 2 goals from Sidney Crosby.

Crosby's first goal was made possible by Evgeni Malkin, who made a great play at the point on a 5-on-3 to keep the puck in at the blueline and chip it over to defenseman Alex Goligoski. Gogo then carried the puck down near the far circle before sliding a cross-ice pass to Sid.

The puck hit something on the way but still got over to Crosby, who buried it before Panthers' netminder Tomas Vokoun was able to scramble completely across his crease and make the stop.

The Penguins had a goal by Bill Guerin disallowed a few minutes later because he whacked the puck in out of the air after Crosby batted it with his glove and tried to do the same (but missed). It was clearly the correct call.

Not to be denied, however, #87 and #71 worked some additional magic late in the frame while killing a penalty together to tie the score. Malkin swooped behind the net with the puck and found Crosby in the right circle, who one-timed Geno's pass off something and past Vokoun with about 3 minutes left.

It was welcome relief for the Penguins, who really stormed the Florida zone for the last two periods. They rang up 43 shots on Vokoun in regulation and overtime, and he had to be pretty strong once the Pens' got rolling. He's been pretty competitive against Pittsburgh in his career -- despite a sub .500 lifetime mark against Pittsburgh, and despite his miserable statistics this year so far -- and last night was no different.

After a scoreless overtime, Crosby was the only player to tally in the shootout, scoring on a nice forehand shot after a fake to the backhand. That was move I've never seen Crosby try before.

Johnson, obviously, was rock solid in the shootout, stopping all 3 Florida shooters.

He also made a ridiculous save in the 3rd period reaching back to snag a puck out of mid air on a last ditch effort. They shot wouldn't have counted for a goal even had it gone in because Johnson was the victim of goaltender inteference on the play. Still, it was just great work by the Pens' backup netminder, who was strong all night, and clearly the recipient of a lot of good feelings by his teammates at the end of the game who were happy to get him the win after playing so poorly in front of him in his last outing.

The Penguins are now 9-1, and still pace both the Atlantic Division and the entire league with 18 points.

The New Jersey Devils and goaltender Martin Brodeur, who were off last night and who the Penguins host tonight in the 2nd half of back-to-back contests at Mellon Arena, is 8 points back with 10, sitting 3rd in the Atlantic.

At the 10-game mark, Pittsburgh is where it is right now because of the fact that they're getting contributions from everyone when they need it. Crosby has been relatively quiet this season -- especially the last 3 or 4 games -- before breaking out last night. But Pittsburgh has 11 players with 5 points or more, which is the pace of having ELEVEN forty point players at the end of the season. Goligoski, in particular, is off to a great start. He's near the league lead for scoring among defensemen.

Overall, Pittsburgh is tied for second in the league in goals scored, and tied for third in goals against, and that will win you a lot of hockey games. They just are playing with a championship confidence. While they aren't perfect, and while they could still use certain contributions from some players -- like Chris Kunitz scoring goals, for example -- they find ways to win.

It's just hard not to feel good about the way they're playing, even having to face the absence of Sergei Gonchar for the next 4-6 weeks.

Recap tomorrow in what is likely to be a good contest back at the Mellon tonight.

Let's Go Pens!