Pens 3, Islanders 2

The Pens broke their 4 game losing streak with a win against the Islanders at Mellon Arena on Thursday night. Goals were scored by Gonchar, Sykora and Laraque (that's right in case you just did a double take - his first in a Penguins uniform) got the game winner. Fleury did a good job in front of the net stopping 26 or 28 Islander shots.

The Pens did a nice job against the usually pesky Islanders. The Islanders have given the Pens a though time the past 8 or 10 seasons. They are normally a gritty, hard nosed team that comes out and plays to win every game. Adding Ted Nolan behind the bench will only generate more of that same style. The Pens knew that they needed to bring two points out of the contest and they played the whole game with that desire on display. This is the way they should come out and play every game. Maybe it's a start of a good thing, maybe it will take more to wake them up. Either way they earned 2 much needed points and did not allow a division rival any points in the standings.

Somthing to take note of: Malkin and Crosby both have lengthy point scoring streaks going on. Crosby has scored a point or more in all 18 games this season and Malkin has a point in 12 consecutive. I will keep this updated as the steaks continue.

Another item of note: Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor were both healthy scratches for the Isles game. I think maybe Michel Therrien read Joe Starkey's article in the Trib the other day?

Next up - tonight at the Igloo vs. the New York Rangers...I hate typing those words.