Penguins Scalped by Blackhawks, 3-1

With so many players auditioning for spots next season, effort and compete level have for the most part not been an issue for our Penguins since the trade deadline passed a month ago. Indeed, with the notable exception of back-to-back blowout losses to the Lightning and Sabres, the Pens have emptied their energy stores on a nightly basis.

As for yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Blackhawks at the United Center?

Maybe not so much.

The Pens did manage to keep pace with their hosts for the first 40 minutes, even holding a slight statistical advantage, before the wheels literally fell off during the third period. Understandable in a way, given that we’d played an emotionally charged game in Dallas the…