This past week represented the worst of times and the best of times for the Penguins.
On the negative side, Pittsburgh turned a 3-1 third period lead against the Islanders into a meltdown that stretched into a shootout. The Pens would lose in it. They followed that up by getting blown out by Carolina — the second time this season the Hurricanes have made the Penguins look like a substandard team.
That left Pittsburgh with a 5-8-2 record and in a season spiraling out of control. But they took a first step back towards respectability with one of their best games of the season against rival Washington.