Twenty-four hours after a really embarrassing loss to Ottawa the Penguins returned home to take on division opponent New Jersey and handed the Devils and Marty Brodeur a 5-2 loss.
The Penguins moved to within one point of the Rangers and four points ahead of Philadelphia with 7 games remaining for all three teams. Marc-Andre Fleury picked up his 41st victory of the season after becoming the first Penguin goaltender to have two career 40-win seasons.
Sidney Crosby scored again and had two breakaways on Brodeur. Marty stopped the first but Sid put one five-hole through Brodeur on the second chance.
Pascal Dupuis extended his personal best scoring streak to 10 games and scored his 23rd goal of the season and registered his 49th and 50th points surpassing his career best of 48.
Jordan Stall also registered a goal after not having scored for several games.
There is an interesting possibility arising. It is possible that Florida could make the playoffs by winning its division but finish with fewer pints than the 9th place team in the division (Buffalo or Washington). Meaning, if the rule was not in place providing that division winners receive an automatic playoff spot (first, second, third or fourth) that team (Florida) would not have made the playoffs.
Right now it appears most likely that the Penguins will play either Buffalo or Washington (if they finish first in the conference) or Philadelphia (if they finish fourth or fifth) in the first round of the playoffs.
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