Heeeeeeeeee's baaaaaaaaaaaack.
OK, so it was a cheap imitation of an overused, probably trademarked, catch phrase from Poltergeist, but it took the Pittsburgh Penguins about two-and-a-half hours after Sidney Crosby decided he was good to go before those dirty birds found themselves on the top perch in the East, gazing down at 14 others.
Seems like just yesterday that I suggested the Penguins had some shortcomings between the pipes that would see Pittsburgh in tough against Marty Brodeur and the Devils, or any other team they met along the way to the Stanley Cup final?
And I'm sticking to my guns. With that question mark hanging over the bench, it's going to be an uphill climb to reach the final showdown. Both Marc-Andre Fleury and Ty Conklin are holding down the fort right now but the collars get a little tighter come playoff time, which might just prove to be Pittsburgh's undoing.
But man, they are going to be fun to watch.
And here I was, six weeks ago, lamenting the Penguins would have their hand forced to make a trade when Crosby went down. Some guy named Malkin proved my theory wrong in a hurry.
Many felt the Penguins gave up too much for a rental when they traded for Marian Hossa at the deadline, especially when Hossa was injured in his first start with Pittsburgh.
Again, maybe so, but the Penguins feel they can win right now and, if their goaltenders catch lightning in a bottle come springtime, the Devils, or any other team that gets in their way, may be on the wrong end of that matchup.
Then again, that is a big ‘if'.
Either way, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins did what they needed to do and kept their heads above water.
Now their leader is back and the East's first seed is there for the taking.
After that, all bets are off.