The Pens have won 3 games in a row while scoring 19 total goals in that span - that's a 6.3 goals-per-game average. And Pittsburgh has averaged 4.7 goals per game since Nov. 23 during a 5-2 run. The Pens' 33 goals in that 7-game span are 12 more than the next closest team.
"We're getting contributions from throughout the roster," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "We're getting offense from our blue line, we're getting offense throughout the four lines."
One of the greatest axioms in sports is that your best players have to be your best players. Meaning, in order for a team to be successful that team's best players have to be playing at their best.
The Pens' recent offensive assault has been lead by, you guessed it, their best players. The Pens' top three scorers - Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel - have been surging.
"They're dynamic players. These guys are difference-makers," Sullivan said. "They've consistently generated offense throughout the course of this young season.
"Most nights these guys have been a threat for us. When they play like that, they make us better."
\Malkin, who leads the Pens with 28 points, is riding a 6-game scoring streak totaling 11 points (2G-9A). He also has points in 8 of his past 9 games (2G-11A).
\Crosby, who leads the team with 17 goals, is on a 5-game scoring streak totaling 8 points (3G-5A), while posting 11 points (5G-6A) in his past 7 games.
*Kessel, who is tied for the team-lead with 18 assists, has 6 points (3G-3A) in his past 3 games. He has collected 9 points (5G-4A) in his last 7 contests.
The Pens' tandem of Crosby and Malkin have been nicknamed the Two-Headed Monster in the past. That nomenclature may have to be updated to the Three-Headed Monster with the addition of Kessel.
"We're just trying to do everything that we can to help the team win," Kessel said. "If we can produce, that's beneficial to us. We're just out there trying to play our game.
"It always feels good to produce. Hopefully, we keep going."
All 3 NHL All-Stars have risen near the top of the NHL leaderboards in production. Malkin, Crosby or Kessel each rank in the league's top-5 in every offensive category.
Crosby's 17 goals are tied for the most in the league, while his 27 points are tied for 4th (and don't forget that he missed the first 6 games of the regular season).
Malkin's 28 points rank 3rd in the NHL and his 18 assists are tied for 5th. Meanwhile, Kessel's 27 points are tied for 4th and his 18 assists are tied for 5th.
"When the puck's going in for you everyone is feeling good," Crosby said. "You try to keep shooting the puck and try to ride it as long as you can."
But while scoring and producing is rewarding for the trio, it all comes back to the bottom line: winning. And with the Pens' recent run they've climbed first place in the Metro Division standings.
"It's good when the puck is going in, you're able to build some momentum and win some games," Crosby said. "Ultimately it's about winning hockey games, so if we're able to produce it gives us a better chance to do that."
