It has been a very interesting season for the Pittsburgh Penguins thus far. From kicking things off overseas and having to deal with the accompanying jet lag that comes with a huge time zone change. To playing almost the full month of October on home ice and struggling through the adjustment period that comes with turning over 1/3 of a NHL roster.

Many outside observers were talking about the significant backward steps the Penguins had taken and how the new additions to the line-up would significantly downgrade the team. Well, don’t look now…the Penguins have very quietly put together a 3 game winning streak and sit only two points off of the lead in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

Sure everything is far from perfect in Penguin-land, but it is getting better every day and the team is starting to wrap its collective head around Michel Therrien’s system. That system is definitely starting to show on the ice, as the defensive game has significantly been upgraded over the last 9 days. Even players not known for stellar defensive play such as Miro Satan have been noticeable in the defensive zone.

In considering the above and all of the story lines around the team and the league that I want to comment on this afternoon and I couldn’t think of a better way to do so than another edition of my ode to ESPN’s Matt Berry…I’m Just Saying…

With that…let’s get this party started…I’m just saying…

…that Jordan Staal had a breakout game last night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Ok, so maybe I am being a bit effusive in my praise, but he was definitely better. He was strong on the puck and getting shots on goal. He probably should have scored a couple but Michael Leighton was strong in the net. His pass to set up Ruslan Fedotenko’s first goal as a Pittsburgh Penguin was a beautiful skill play in which he faked a shot and dished…definitely something that makes you think about how good the kid can actually become.

…that Fedotenko and Staal are starting to develop a great on ice rapport. The duo combined with Petr Sykora last night to give the Penguins a very formidable second line…a line that allows the team to keep Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin together for a longer period of time.

…that Crosby and Malkin on the same line is just unfair. How the organization conned the hockey gods into this one is a question for the ages.

…that Michael Leighton deserved better last night. He is a much better goaltender that I ever gave him credit for…he will definitely push Cam Ward and earn his share of starts this season. He made a save during the third period last night that defied logic. He was down and out and managed to kick away a Petr Sykora one timer that he couldn’t have seen coming.

…that on a team with Crosby, Malkin, and Staal, a line led by Max Talbot was the Penguins best last night. Talbot, Miro Satan and Tyler Kennedy combined for 3 or 4 highlight reel shifts, including Max Talbot’s breakaway goal during the third period. They controlled play deep in the Carolina zone, cycled better than anyone could have hoped and produced many scoring chances. The line was all hard work, speed and puck possession.

…that a big part of the Talbot line’s success can be attributed to Darryl Sydor and Alex Goligoski, especially Goligoski. Goligoski and Sydor played off of each other very well and were dynamic in holding the puck in at the point. It is clear that Goligoski is going to be a very good player in this league. He seems to think the game at a very high level and does everything in his power to keep the play alive.

…that Go Go still needs some polishing in the defensive zone, but that can be forgiven since he is making up for it on the other end of the ice.

…that it is only a matter of time before Marc Andre Fleury scores a NHL goal. He has attempted it on several occasions during his career and speaks openly of it being one of his dreams. “I have been a goalie my whole life and it is my dream to score one goal,” Fleury said post game last night. The Quebec native definitely has the ability and will hit pay dirt possibly as soon as this season.

…that Eric Goddard and Paul Bissonnette are Pittsburgh’s version of the bash brothers. Neither backs down from a challenge and both are willing to defend their teammates. Biz Nasty is a reclamation project for the ages and Goddard may be the best free agent signings Ray Shero made this off-season in that he is performing above expectations and bringing a bit more to the table that the player he replaced.

…that the Montreal Canadiens have got to be kicking themselves for trading Mike Ribeiro for Janne Niinimaa and a 5th round draft pick. Though Ribeiro obviously needed a change of scenery that deals awfully lopsided these days.

…that Milan Lucic is a complete animal…and I mean that in a good way. He has the ability to do it all for the Bruins. The young forward is skating on the team’s top line, he can score goals, open up the ice for his line-mates and is willing to drop the mitts with anyone. His glass shattering check on Mike Van Ryn last night was crazy.

…that things may not be unraveling in Tampa Bay just yet, but if they do not turn a corner soon they will. The team is so reminiscent of the post lock out Penguins it is uncanny. They made a big splash in free agency, the stars are not quite meshing with one another, a porous defense, the first overall draft pick and a coach that isn’t using him the correct way. (Remember Edzo insisting on using Crosby on the wing) The Mavericks showed that they are not afraid to make wholesale changes during the off-season, what’s to stop them from doing it again if things don’t improve. The irony is that several members of the Lightning’s roster lived through the season in question as members of the Penguins.

…that Janne Pesonen will be in the NHL before the end of the year. He still has some work to do on certain aspects of his game, but his offense is translating nicely as he has posted 8 (2G 6A) points in 5 games. He has teamed with Chris Minard to give the Baby Penguins a nice one, two punch.

…that Darryl Sydor reminds us every time he gets in the line-up why Ray Shero kept him around. The two time Stanley Cup winner has been a good citizen and does whatever he is asked. He has been a steadying influence on Alex Goligoski and is not above working with the Penguins youngsters on bettering their games.

…that the Columbus Blue Jackets have quietly built a great young team and are on the rise. It may not happen this year, but they have a great goaltender and some very promising young forwards to skate with Rick Nash. Though Scott Howson deserves a lot of the credit, there are a group of scouts that have been with team since it’s inception and their work is starting to roll through the pipeline.

…that Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are starting to play their game of “anything you can do, I can do better” and that bodes very well for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They are both in the top five in league scoring, with Malkin leading and Crosby sitting just 2 points behind.

…that Miroslav Satan is starting to finish and is currently on pace for 37 goals. I recall reading something about him being a 30-goal man in Pittsburgh in the very space about a month ago. He is also on pace to record 62 points, which would surpass the production of the departed Ryan Malone one season ago by 11 points. I’m just saying…

…that you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it…more later…