Rutherford's deadline deals continue to pay off as Penguins top Lightning

Take away three of the top four defensemen for any NHL club and see how long they stay afloat. The results will likely be pretty grim.

But that hasn't been the case for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as general manager Jim Rutherford has steadied the ship with some astute wheeling and dealing once again.

The club saw another example of their manager's deadline-day savvy during their 5-2 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night, as Rutherford's fingerprints were all over the win.

New additions Ron Hainsey and Mark Streit both shone for Pittsburgh, the game serving as the first in Penguins colors for the latter defender.

Streit tallied the game-winning goal and added an assist, registering his first multi-point game since early December and his first goal in 21 appearances. Hainsey, meanwhile, led the team in ice time, skating for 25:07.

(Photo courtesy: USA Today Sports)

And the Penguins' back end did quite a job. Tampa Bay came into the tilt having scored four or more goals in five of its last 10 games - the Lightning had nine tallies in their past two contests alone.

With Hainsey and Streit carrying the bulk of the defensive load - both seeing more ice than former first-pairing option Brian Dumoulin - Pittsburgh kept the Lightning to just two goals. Of course, having Matt Murray behind them surely helped, as did having star forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel doing plenty of damage in front of them.

There's no doubt the talent of the Penguins' core has helped their new additions transition easily, but even so, it's tough to argue with Rutherford's results over the past few seasons.

Trade acquisitions Trevor Daley and Justin Schultz have both looked phenomenal since coming to the Steel City, as has the oft-maligned Kessel.

The latter two did work during Pittsburgh's win over the Lightning as well, with Schultz posting a goal and an assist and Kessel registering two helpers.

If Hainsey and Streit continue to chip in as they did on Friday night, it's fair to assume the Penguins can hold their place and gain some steam heading into the playoffs once again.

That's a frightening proposition for the rest of the Eastern Conference, considering talented blue-liners Kris Letang, Olli Maatta, and Daley could all be back for the postseason, adding even more skill to the Penguins' potent lineup.