Magic Number is 2 as Pens Beat Predators 5-2

The Penguins currently are playing hotter than a fox in a forest fire.  Last nights win against Nashville gave them their 10th win out of their last 11 games.  The Penguins aren't just winning, they are a team that now seems to register four or more goals on a regular basis, while destroying their competitors.  Some observations:

The Penguins were relentless in their puck pursuit in the offensive end.  If they weren't creating scoring chances, they were badgering the Predators all night trying to leave their defensive zone.  Furthermore, their power play seems to be coming back to life without the presence of Evgeni Malkin, as they went 2/4 with goals from Letang and Hornqvist.

Next, the play of Phil Kessel has seemed to silence the critics for now.  He has five goals and six assists equaling eleven points in his last ten games, while also getting great scoring chances.  Everyone was critical early on, and maybe justified, but I thought it was going to take time to get acclimated to Pittsburgh, and having to deal with two coaches your first year here is no picnic.  Mike Sullivan's style of play has definitely helped Kessel flourish.  We will need the same amount or maybe more production in the playoffs from him.

Last, it is no secret that the best team in the NHL currently resides in the steel city.  The expectations again going into the playoffs are very high, and who would of seen this coming after the way they stumbled out of the gates.  I won't definitively say they will win the Stanley Cup, but I expect a deep run, who knows maybe till the middle/late of June :) 

Source: Yahoo! Images