Admirable as Evgeni Malkin may be for trying to take the blame for the team's loss against the Panthers, fact is the entire team is struggling right now and the current losing streak is evidence of that.
- Against the Maple Leafs on December 27, the loss that started this dreaded streak, the Pens were down 3-2 late in the third. They did manage to tie it, providing some hope that they'd at least squeak one point out of it, but that didn't last long. Not even 90 seconds after the tying goal, the Leafs jumped ahead 4-3 and held on for the regulation win.
- Two days later against the Sabres, the Pens jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. The Sabres pulled Ryan Miller early and it would appear as if Pittsburgh had this one in the bag. Wrong. The Sabres rallied for four unanswered goals, taking this one down 4-3 in regulation.
- The day following the Buffalo game, the Pens once again proved no match for Marty Brodeur and the Devils in a 2-0 shutout loss. The win was Brodeur's second consecutive against the Penguins, as he extended his streak to over 168 minutes of scoreless hockey against the boys in black and gold.
- We all hoped the New Year would help right the wrongs that closed out 2009 when the Pens took on the Lightning this past Saturday, but there was no such luck. Sure, there was a goal, but that was just a minor blip on the radar that ultimately put the Pens on the wrong end of a 3-1 final.
- And then finally that brings us to yesterday's game, where after jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead the Penguins gave up SIX unanswered goals.
Next up on the schedule is Atlanta, a team struggling much like the Penguins as of late. Since releasing their "halfway home plan," a ticket plan designed to lure in late season ticket holders with teases for playoff tickets, the Thrashers have won only two games. More to come on ATL tomorrow.