Game 74 Preview: Penguins Host Lightning

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 20, 11:06 AM | Hype this story!
W L OTL Pts.
1 2 0 2
 
Pts. W L OTL
4 2 1 0

7:30 @ Mellon Arena
FSN Pittsburgh, SUN Net (Tampa Bay)
Probable Goaltenders: Fleury (Pit), Smith (TB)
 
Inside The Game
Fourteen goals-for in two games may have been a bit of an aberration, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have the talent to outscore any team in the NHL...despite what they showed Tuesday in their lackluster loss to the division rival New York Rangers.

"Depending on how we’re going to react, sometimes it can be a good thing," coach Michel Therrien said to Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "The team was playing really well lately. We had a step back. We worked on different things I believed we needed to work on. Sometimes it can be a good thing, those things."

So tonight, the Penguins will look to put their most recent loss in their back pocket and dig deep to find a crucial win against one of the worst teams in the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Why is it crucial?  Because a win tonight could give the Penguins a share of first place in the Eastern Conference, assuming Montreal loses to Boston.

It won’t be an easy win, though, as the Penguins haven’t defeated the Lightning at home in more than four years.  And, though the Lightning have had some pretty good teams — including one Stanley Cup winner — in that stretch, five years without a home victory against an opponent is a streak that should draw the ire of the flightless birds.

After a pointless effort Tuesday, Evgeni Malkin has an opportunity to gain some ground on Alexander Ovechkin in the league’s scoring race.  Ovechkin (102) was held scoreless last night and has played two more games than Malkin (97).  It isn’t unrealistic to believe Malkin can make up five points in two games.

It also isn’t unrealistic to believe Marc-Andre Fleury could earn the starting goaltender role as the Penguins push toward their second consecutive playoff berth.

The 23-year-old will get the start tonight after Ty Conklin gave up five in the losing effort Tuesday night.

"Right now I really like the way Fleury’s playing," Therrien said to Prisuta. "If you want an answer now, Fleury’s played really well, and it’s good for our team. He’s really solid."

He added that, "Performance dictates who’s going to play."

Hopefully Fleury can put together a performance tonight that will backstop his team to a victory that could all-but-secure a playoff berth for the Penguins.
 
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 73 41 25 7 89 2, Atlantic 4, Eastern 6, NHL
Lightning 73 29 36 8 66 5, Southeast 15, Eastern 29, NHL
                 
Team Statistics
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 222 201 20.5 80.8 21-10-5 20-15-2 6-4-0 1 loss
Lightning 207 237 19.3 81.5 18-17-2 11-19-6 4-5-1 1 loss
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Lightning
Goals 41 Malkin Goals 39 Lecavalier
Assists 56 Malkin Assists 55 St. Louis
Points 97 Malkin Points 88 Lecavalier
PIMs 128 Laraque PIMs 154 O’Brien
Wins 18 Conklin Wins 20
5		 Holmqvist (Dal)
Ramo
 
Injuries
Penguins Injury Lightning Injury
Crosby, DTD
Scuderi, DTD
Beech, IR
Hall, IR
Roberts, IR
Eaton, IR		 Sore Ankle
Fractured Finger
Broken Right Wrist
Sports Hernia Surgery
Broken Leg/Ankle Sprain
Torn ACL		 Lundin, DTD
Gratton, IR
Lukowich, IR
Craig, IR
Taylor, IR		 Left Ankle
Torn Labrum, Left Hip
Sports Hernia
Left Knee
Hip
       
Note: Info up-to-date as of 12:00 pm, Thursday, March 20, 2008.

Comments

  1. Nathan

    Mar 20, 11:12 AM

    It really seems to me that Conklin solidified the goalie going into the playoffs the other night.

    I was all for Conklin to continue to be #1 after Fleury came back, but it seems now Fleury will be the best choice. I do believe Fleury will be the Penguins goalie when they win the cup.

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Mar 20, 12:50 PM

    I like your optimism, Nathan!

  3. Tim

    Mar 20, 09:21 PM

    Has Staal gotten the scoring monkey off his back? It is nice to see him getting the back in the net heading into the playoffs.

  4. Tim

    Mar 20, 09:21 PM

    Has Staal gotten the scoring monkey off his back? It is nice to see him getting the back in the net heading into the playoffs.

  5. DaBich

    Mar 21, 04:22 AM

    Tim, seems like Staal has gotten new life playing between Hossa and Dupuis and I like it!!!

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