Penguins end six-year playoff drought

[PJKCards]

WASHINGTON (AP)-- Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the playoffs for the first time since 2001, there was no champagne in the winning locker room.

The Penguins' 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday guaranteed postseason action for the once-beleaguered franchise, with help from two second-period goals by Ryan Whitney. It was Whitney's second two-goal game of the season.

"It's a great accomplishment. We're proud of clinching the playoffs, but we want more," said Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien.

"It's pretty exciting to get in the playoffs. That's been our goal all season," Whitney said. "Just to know we would be playing in April, that's one of our goals and we reached it tonight."

Whitney scored the second and fourth Penguins goals, but it was Sidney Crosby's second-period goal past a stickless Olaf Kolzig that was the most memorable.

Read more at: NHL - Pittsburgh Penguins/Washington Capitals Recap Tuesday March 27, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports