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Penguins Wrap: For a Change, More Good Than Bad

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The disappointing thing for the Pittsburgh Penguins is that their four-game winning streak ended with a 4-1 defeat at Florida Saturday.

The encouraging thing is that they’d actually had a significant win streak for the first time since running off seven victories in a row Dec. 1-15.

For more than two months, the few multiple wins they strung together were more of smudge than a streak.

They also added forwards Mikael Granlund and Nick Bonino and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov as the NHL trade deadline neared, while dealing away Teddy Blueger and Brock McGinn.

Here’s a look at the most productive six days the Penguins have had in a while:

Monday

The Penguins had a lot of players do a lot of good things during their 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay Sunday evening.

A spirited debate: Should the Penguins’ priority as the NHL trade deadline approaches be to add a third-line center or a top-four defenseman?

Weekend victories over St. Louis and Tampa Bay gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a big lift, but were just a first step toward returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs. (+)

Tuesday

Jason Zucker breaks a 1-1 tie with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to lift the Penguins to a 3-1 victory in Nashville.

Brock McGinn, who didn’t have a point in his previous 26 games, picks up a key assist in the win over the Predators, in what he has to know might be his final game with the Penguins.

The Penguins put winger Brock McGinn and defenseman Mark Friedman on waivers.

A look at the potential salary-cap implications of waiving McGinn and Friedman.

Wednesday

The Penguins send a second-round draft choice to Nashville for forward Mikael Granlund.

Fourth-line center Teddy Blueger is traded to Vegas for a third-round draft choice and a minor-league defenseman shortly before the Penguins send McGinn and Friedman to their farm team in Wilkes-Barre.

If the Penguins are in the market for a high-profile forward, Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi should be on their radar.

The Penguins aren’t necessarily better after the personnel moves Ron Hextall has made as the NHL trade deadline comes into view.

Thursday

Tristan Jarry plays well during the Penguins’ 5-4 overtime victory in Tampa, then offers the insight of the season: Winning is “obviously way better than losing.”

It was quite a back-and-forth slugfest between the Penguins and Lightning … until Jason Zucker ended it at 2:13 of overtime to extend the Penguins’ winning streak to four games.

The return of injured forward Ryan Poehling has been delayed after he suffers a setback in his rehab.

Many fans enjoy the NHL trade deadline, but it’s important to stay realistic about what a team can accomplish then. (+)

Friday

After the trade deadline passes, Ron Hextall says he believes the Penguins can contend for a Stanley Cup.

Although Hextall made some good additions as the deadline approached, one set the Penguins up for a salary-cap headache in the future.

Nick Bonino, who played on the Penguins’ Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017, is brought back to be a bottom-six center.

Hextall bolsters the Pittsburgh Penguins’ defensive depth by trading for Dmitry Kulikov from Anaheim.

Jeff Carter is one of many players who rose to the occasion during the Penguins’ victory in Tampa.

Saturday

What might have been a season-saving road trip for the Penguins ends in a lackluster 4-1 defeat at Florida. (+)

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky accuses Jason Zucker of throwing an elbow that knocked off his mask.

The Penguins’ penchant for giving up goals late in periods cost them in their loss to the Panthers.