Greetings and welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the latest installment of the Post-Gazette Penguins mailbag. The local hockey team is red-hot right now, winners of five in a row. They’re 10-1-1 in their last 12 and an NHL-best 16-4-1 since Jan. 1. Their 5-2 win Sunday against Columbus moved them into first place in the Metropolitan Division (though, it should be noted, all of their competitors for that spot have games in hand).
The trade deadline is also rapidly approaching, and Jim Rutherford — a bit uncharacteristically — has yet to make a move. The Penguins figure to be buyers in some way, but just how much remains to be seen.