from Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Outshot, 12-6, and out-goaled, 2-0, in the middle frame, the Penguins had just escaped to the dressing room down, 3-1, to the spectacularly indifferent Carolina Hurricanes. If you've always wanted to see an AHL game and just never got around to it, you can cross that off the list if you've got a ticket stub from this one....

The Penguins didn't flinch; after all, they are themselves a markedly flaccid 8-8-1 since March 1. Between themselves and the 'Canes, it was hard to tell which was the team playing out a dreary winter and which was the team hawking playoff tickets between periods.

Dan Bylsma's team has spent too much time trying to differentiate between opponents who are already playing playoff hockey and those already playing for next season, and there's no longer much question as to the urgency level wafting off the Penguins.

You've heard that tired construct "If the playoffs were to begin tonight ... "?

Well, had the playoffs began Tuesday, the Penguins would be down, 1-0. Facing a genuine playoff-caliber opponent, they could easily have lost, 8-0.

more

Sidney Crosby also went down in the game last night, watch below...