Players motivated to earn first win against New Jersey this season

The Pittsburgh Penguins head into New Jersey playing their best hockey of the season with what is perhaps their most complete team in two years.

Coming off a disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh is eyeing their first win of the season in five tries against New Jersey tonight .

Pittsburgh appeared to be on their way to a 5th straight win Thursday night but got poor goaltending from backup Brent Johnson who made 17 saves on 21 shots. Pittsburgh outshot Carolina 40-21 and jumped out to an early 2-0 first period lead on goals from Bill Guerin (18) and Jordan Staal (19) but the surging Canes would score four of the next five goals to win in overtime.

"Honestly, it was just one of those nights," Johnson said. Pittsburgh was able to get a valuable point to move four points ahead of the Devils in the Atlantic Division.

The buzz going into the Hurricanes game was Tyler Kennedy not playing. Contrary to other reports, multiple sources indicate Kennedy remains bothered by a sore groin.

However, Kennedy is in serious danger of losing his spot on the third line. Pascal Dupuis performed admirably on the third line, creating a turnover on the fore-check and setting up Jordan Staal for a first period goal and added an assist on Matt Cooke's second period goal to tie the game 3-3.

The Penguins third line is so good, mostly because of Jordan Staal. Dupuis is becoming more comfortable playing right wing and he's giving the coaching staff yet another option.

Sources tell me one option the coaching staff is seriously considering is putting Kennedy on the 4th line to provide some speed on the wings and improve the 4th lines ability of controlling the puck down low in the offensive zone.