Penguins Get Second Straight Win ; Red Wings Re-Match Up Next

It hasn't been easy, but the Penguins look to be on the verge of some kind of a turnaround.

Down 3-0 in the third period to the ailing Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night, something suddenly seemed to click for Pittsburgh. Goals by Evgeni Malkin, Mark Eaton, and Petr Sykora pulled the Pens even with the Bolts while Marc-Andre Fleury shut down the opposition for the rest of the period.
A late OT goal created by some dogged determination from Jordan Staal and a nice finish from Malkin gave the Penguins their first overtime victory since late December.

If last night was any indicator, that come-from behind nailbiter over Tampa seems to have flipped a switch.
Despite being outshot (34-25) yet again, the Penguins rallied behind a stellar performance from Marc-Andre Fleury (including a 15-save first period) to win 4-1.
It may have been a Godsend that recent acquisition Wade Dubielewicz got the start over rookie phenom Steve Mason, but nonetheless, a 3 point night from Sidney Crosby, 2 goals from second-year defenseman Kris Letang and Petr Sykora's 21st goal on the year were the difference.

Now as the Pens sit tied for 9th in the conference with the Carolina Hurricanes, the team that defeated them in the Stanley Cup Finals will return to Mellon Arena for the NBC Game of the Week at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Winners of their last two, the 2nd place team in the West however has lost 5 of its last 7. Detroit will also have to travel to Pittsburgh in a rush, as they play this afternoon against the Oilers in Joe Louis Arena.
Nonetheless, as long as the Pens don't get blown out in this game, it could be very exciting. The other time the two clubs met this season (11/11/08), Jordan Staal (#11) decided to make it, fittingly, his day. Detroit had a 5-2 lead which was eventually diminished to a 6-6 deadlock on a 3rd period hat trick for Staal.
Later with 1:11 remaining in overtime, Staal recorded the primary assist on the game winner for Pittsburgh.

If tomorrow's game is half as exciting, it could be the biggest game of the season for either team.
For the Red Wings, a 3rd straight win coming on the second day of a back-to-back would erase the stench of their still-fresh 5 game losing streak and reassert their dominance near the top of the West.
For the Penguins, a 3rd straight win would get them closer to a playoff spot and would make their record 2-0 agains the team that ended their Stanley Cup Dreams less than a year ago.