More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

7 months ago: Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71), of Russia, celebrates his first period goal past New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) in an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Few things define a team effort like a 6-1 that sees six different goal scorers and nine different players registering assists.  Plus the defensive effort to limit the opponent to one goal and killing all four power plays allowed.

And this was against the top team in the division, although slumping losing five straight games and without one of their best forwards.  Still, a win is a win is a win and the Pens came out strong after a relatively long layoff and showed no signs of rust.

• Rob Scuderi was named the FSN Pittsburgh broadcast player of the game for his effort.  His stat line was unremarkable: 20:47 played, 2 hits, 2 takeaways and an impressive +4, it was a sign of the evenness of the team effort.
• Of all players, Tyler Kennedy set the tone.  TK got a team high six shots on goal, and early in the game he sent a rising slapper from just beyond the blue-line that appeared to catch Martin Brodeur in the shoulder or surgically repaired bicep.  Brodeur never looked comfortable after that point, which is about the only way you pop six goals past arguably the best goalie ever.
• Evgeni Malkin looked like he put it in a higher gear than everyone.  Geno had three takeaways just pick pocketing the opposition and spinning around.  Though he "only" had one power play goal on the night, #71 left his mark.  Malkin also won 5 of 8 faceoffs, an unusual night of success in that regards.
• Sidney Crosby also left his imprint.  Several great passes and then getting right in front and positioning his skate to let Kris Letang bank it in.  Crosby also scored a disallowed goal when he got taken down in front and then did kick the puck in.  Good to see that the captain is driving to the net with authority.  Crosby's point streak since returning from injury also continues!
• Without enforcer/anchor Eric Godard in the lineup, every Penguin played more than 8:56 of ice-time.  And the low man was Ruslan Fedotenko; who did well to get an assist and a +2 rating before leaving the game early with an undisclosed injury.  It remains to be seen how serious the injury will be.
• Marc-Andre Fleury again stood his ground got a 24 save on 25 shot effort and totally outclassed his boyhood hero Brodeur...For this night at least.

And now the eight game homestand is over to which the boys went 6-1-1.  This coming off the heels of 8 of 10 road games that saw Pittsburgh go a solid 8-1-1.  Noticing a trend here?  Under Dan Byslma the Penguins have not yet missed.  Let's keep the roll on.