Beware the Penguins!

After a sluggish start the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing mighty good hockey. In the last ten games they are 9-1.

It was only a month ago that the post-Mario hangover looked to be a painful one for the Pens and their fans. Things have changed fast. Pittsburgh is playing more defensive minded hockey than before and it is working.

The new style may not be of right wing Jaromir Jagr's liking, but he is continuing to play good. He has six goals and five assists over his last eight games.

Another key reason for the Penguin's success lately is goalie Tom Barrasso. He has been playing a solid game and has emerged as a "road-warrior".

Barrasso had a 218 minute shut out streak on the road that ended Tuesday night in Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory over the slumping Los Angeles Kings.

"It's unfortunate. It was kind of a fluke goal. It was a good run while it lasted. I've played 15 years of hockey and never had a streak like that on the road." Barrasso said.

It seems like the Penguins have survived the loss of Mario Lemieux and Petr Nedved and continue to be an Eastern Conference powerhouse.

December 10, 1997