Penguins working to end frustrations, lengthy losing streak

The team hasn't won at home since December.
CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Rob Scuderi and Ric Jackman have each played only three games for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, but both defensemen have already learned the frustration of taking the ice for the worst team in the National Hockey League.
"The guys in here are working hard and it's certainly not that," Scuderi said. "Besides that, I've only been here three games, so I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm talking about."
Hard work has been the mantra of first year head coach Eddie Olczyk, but that first-rate effort has only taken the team to new lows.
Lost 15 straight
Pittsburgh (11-39-5-4) has dropped 15 straight games, including an overtime defeat at St. Louis that officially ended a team-record 13-game skid.
Pittsburgh hasn't won at Mellon Arena since Sebastien Caron pitched a 1-0 shutout Dec. 29 against Chicago and not overall since a 2-1 win at Philadelphia on Jan. 12.
According to NHL rules, the only reason the losing streak officially came to an end was the format change to the standings beginning in 1999-2000 that implemented the addition of the four-on-four overtime and the point awarded for an overtime loss.
"It's frustrating for all of us in here," Jackman said. "I want to help the team to break this because nobody wants to have a slip like this. We have to continue to work hard in practice and polish our game up a little bit."
On Feb. 11 Scuderi was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League because of an injury to defenseman Martin Strbak, while Jackman was acquired from Toronto later that same day for Drake Berehowski.
"We can't put it together and play 60 minutes in a game," defenseman Dick Tarnstrom said. "It's tough to lose all the time. I don't care what the streak is, I just think that everybody wants to win."
Pittsburgh is on its way toward another ignominious distinction.
More lows ahead
With a tie or another loss tonight on Long Island against the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh would tie last season's 16-game winless streak, the second-longest in team history behind an 18-game string put together from Jan. 2-Feb. 10, 1983.
"We just need to get a win no matter what it takes," forward Ryan Malone said. "All year long, we haven't gotten the bounces, but you have to work hard for the bounces and we've just got to work harder, I guess."
Like maybe on special teams. Pittsburgh's penalty killing has been bad most of the season and surrendered four power-play goals in five short-handed situations in Monday's 8-4 loss to Toronto. The Penguins have also allowed a league-high 14 short-handed goals on their own power play, including nine at Mellon Arena.
Still, despite losing 15 in a row, the team believes there are victories ahead.
"I don't think it will take much," Scuderi said. "Just some consistency."
Notes
Goaltender Sebastien Caron, benched after two periods of the Penguins' 8-4 loss Monday to Toronto, was demoted to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) on Tuesday.
Andy Chiodo, 12-13-2 with 2.35 goals-against average at Wilkes-Barre, was recalled to replace Caron.
Chiodo, 20, a seventh-round draft pick in 2003, has never played in the NHL, but is expected to split time with Jean-Sebastien Aubin. Aubin gave up Toronto's final three goals Monday and is 2-7 with a 3.07 goals against average in 14 games.
Caron was 5-22-3 with a 3.92 goals against average with Pittsburgh this season after signing a $3.2 million, four-year contract during the offseason. He hasn't won since beating Chicago 1-0 on Dec. 29, losing his last 11 decisions.