On the heels of an ugly three-game losing streak entering March, the Penguins have, for the most part, been playing better hockey of late. While they haven’t quite returned to their sparkling pre-trade deadline groove, when they ripped off an incendiary 17-4-1 mark over a glorious eight-week stretch, they’re showing definite signs of rounding into form just in time for the playoffs.
Tucked into the recent upswing were impressive conquests of Metropolitan Division rival Philadelphia and Dallas. In particular, the playoff-style 3-1 victory over the Stars last Sunday night may have been the black-and-gold’s best performance of a decidedly up-and-down season.