from Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

“Did I see some improvements? For sure,” Johnston said “We were playing a top team, a little bit short-handed. Quite a few players actually had really good games, but we still had four or five guys who need to pick up their compete level.”

Oh. You mean 20 to 25 percent of the roster?

So, three weeks from the start of the NHL playoffs then, the Penguins have four or five guys who aren’t competing hard enough.

By the club’s own public admission.

I’m no expert, but the implications of that numerical sequence, the ol’ 3-4-5, can’t be good.

Chris Kunitz apparently can’t be good anymore, either.

In 12 games this month, he has no goals and two assists.

“I liked parts of his game,” Johnston insisted. “He was at least in the scoring areas.”

David Perron has at least found the net thrice this month, but his shots are so erratic he’s a danger to players of both teams as well as at least a portion of the audience.

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