The Penguins next two opponents, as in the next two opponents that they're going to be facing in the next 48 hours, each have five wins.

I'm not saying that as if the penguins should be looking down their noses at

anybody since they've only got six wins. Good morning to you. Good Friday morning from Columbus, Ohio.

I'm Dan Kovachievich of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports, and this is Daily Shot of Penguins. It comes

your way bright and early every weekday. If you're into football and or baseball,

I also offer daily shots of Steelers and Pirates in the same place that you found this.

It'll be Penguins versus Blue Jackets here tonight at Nationwide Arena.

And it'll be a game just like the one tomorrow night back home at PPG Paints Arena

against the sharks, that your favorite

hockey team had better win. Now, when I say that, I don't mean to inject actual suspense into

a season that probably lost that a good bit ago. As early as it is, it's not too early to say,

oh my goodness, are they not making the playoffs for a third straight year?

Because it isn't just the 6-9 and 3 record.

It's the defensive breakdowns galore.

It's giving up more goals than anyone else.

It's given up more shots than everyone else. This isn't exactly some tough luck stretch that the clubs run into.

The club's been exactly this bad. But, but if you happen to be, as the people inside the Penguins orbit, apparently still are,

a believer that this season could still amount to something,

that whatever it was that happened a week ago today in Washington wasn't a fluke

and could be replicated against any team they face all winter long,

then these two games, my friends, are for you.

These are the ones that either sustained the illusion,

...