"The Penguins are without their captain, but they do not lack for leaders.

Just look at who did what in a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Consol Energy Center on Tuesday night.

Actually, consider who said what.

"We got back in the room and some guys told the truth," defenseman Kris Letang said, initially declining to identify the most vocal teammates during a first-intermission "talk."

"It was just the truth, and it was that we were playing like (expletive)."

Letang later conceded that center Jordan Staal might have expressed that thought.

"I'm not saying what the guys said ... but Geno is more a leader by example, and Staalsy will definitely talk more. It's their play on the ice that speaks for itself.""