NEW YORK -- A week ago, the Penguins were starting April the way they had spent most of March.
By winning a hockey game.
Their 4-1 victory against Boston at TD Garden last Thursday broke a 10-game winless streak there and lifted them into a three-way tie with Washington and the New York Islanders for first place in the East Division.
Today, however, they are four points behind the Capitals and Islanders and, while their grip on a playoff spot hardly is in danger, they are just nine points ahead of Philadelphia and the New York Rangers, who are tied for fifth place and each has a game in hand.
More importantly, the Penguins enter their game against the Rangers Thursday at 7:08 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in defensive free fall, having allowed 15 goals during the past five periods.
It's almost as if someone flipped a switch -- presumably to the "Off" position -- during the first intermission of their game in Boston last Saturday; after giving up only six shots on goal during the opening period, the Penguins allowed two goals in the first 45 seconds of the second period, and five more before the afternoon ended.
Having the next two days off didn't help, because the Penguins spotted New York a 3-0 lead in the first period Tuesday and never got closer than two goals in what became an 8-4 loss.
There's no changing any of that now, of course. The issue for the Penguins is whether they can return to the strong defensive game they were playing on a regular basis before last Saturday and, if so, when?
And so the focus falls on Thursday night's game, during which the Penguins obviously hope to restore their defensive equilibrium. What can't be said with any certainty is whether it's imperative, for the sake of their season, to do it then, before their downward spiral gains more momentum.
YOUR TURN: Is this a potentially pivotal game in the Penguins' season, or just No. 40 of 56 games?
