Playing left wing, Ryan Whitney explained, is tough for a trained defenseman.

And not just because of the extra skating.

Whitney made it clear the new assignment from coach Michel Therrien in the Penguins' 2-0 win Tuesday night at New Jersey was meant as a strong message.

"He obviously thinks that there's six [defensemen] that can do a better job than me right now," Whitney said yesterday after skating in the team's optional practice.

"He just said I'm inconsistent. I have one good game, one bad game, one good game, one bad game. I've got to put together a long stretch of good games."

Whitney, 25, has 12 goals, 39 points and a plus-minus rating of minus-1 in 71 games. It's off his pace from last season, when he had 45 points and was rewarded with a six-year, $24 million contract in July. He agreed with Therrien about the inconsistency.

"I think I could be playing better," Whitney said. "I'm battling through it. I've played some real good games, and I've played some bad games. I don't think that's too different from a lot of guys, but with the contract I signed [last] summer, I had high expectations and I failed to meet them."

With Rob Scuderi back from a finger injury Tuesday, the Penguins were able to dress six other defensemen and play Whitney at forward -- while retaining his spot on the point on the power play -- in a game where they clinched a playoff spot.

"We won, 2-0, so I don't see any lineup changes coming [on defense]," Whitney said. "Every [defenseman] played great. I'm not thrilled playing forward, but to win that game was awesome."

Therrien, who probably will work winger Pascal Dupuis back in the lineup tonight against the New York Islanders, did not speak with reporters, so it is not known how or if he will deploy Whitney.

Whitney was his usual upbeat self in the locker room, even for a time donning an outlandish black wig he keeps at his stall.

"I've never lost confidence in myself. I think that's important," he said. "I know I can turn it around and have a great playoff. If I get a chance to play [defense] again, I'll be ready.

"I'm frustrated, but I'm not going to let that stop my effort or enthusiasm being around the guys. I'm going to remain positive. It's on me to play better and keep a good attitude. If I sulk, it's not going to do anyone any good, including myself."

Dupuis got the call at his New York hotel room at 2:30 a.m. Monday. His wife, Carole-Lyne, was in labor with their third child in Atlanta.

The mad dash was on.

"I had to wait until 6 in the morning to jump on a plane," he said. "You get to Atlanta, there's traffic. It took me an hour and a half to get to the hospital from the airport. I called my wife and she said, 'I'm going to hold on, but hurry up.' "

Dupuis made it just in time for the birth of a daughter, Zoe.

"We called the doctor when I got there, and one push and the baby was out."

Winger Gary Roberts skated with conditioning coach Mike Kadar before practice, his first time on the ice in more than a week.

"That's a good sign," said Roberts, who at one point had hoped to come back tonight from a broken leg and high ankle sprain so he would have five games to prepare for the playoffs.

He hopes to skate with full equipment this morning.

Forward Connor James, who has played in 13 games over six recalls, was sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. ... Fourteen players participated in the optional practice, plus defenseman Sergei Gonchar, who came out late wearing his warmups. ... Forward Kris Beech, out with a broken wrist, practiced. ... Defenseman Mark Eaton's wife, Dorrie, gave birth to a daughter, Adrianna, Tuesday night. It's the couple's second child, both girls. Eaton is out for the season after knee surgery.