Game 42 Preview: Penguins At Panthers

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 8, 02:03 PM | Hype this story!

7:30 @ Bank Atlantic Center
FSN Pittsburgh, FSP Florida
Season Score: Penguins 1, Panthers 0
 
Inside The Game
The Pittsburgh Penguins are heading south to fight a battle rarely won.  As a precaution, some reserve troops — defenseman Ryan Lannon and forward Ryan Stone — will join the team on their Southeast Division trip.  With a 19-31-3 record in the state of Florida, the Penguins are ready to turn things around, and what better time than during a six-game winning streak?

"I’ve heard a lot about it this week, the team not doing well down there," Sydor said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Playing there, the humidity is a factor and it is warmer. I know it does affect the [visiting] team if they’re not prepared for it.  We have a chance to turn that around, make it mind over matter."

Penguins third string goaltender turned starter, Ty Conklin, is riding a seven-game winning streak that has propelled the Penguins from the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings to second place, and from middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference to fourth place.  For his work, Conklin was named the NHL’s third star of the week.

Tonight, the Penguins will need Conklin’s best and Sydor’s saavy as they enter the house the Ollie Jokinen built…
 
Standings
  GP W L OT Pts Division Conference League
Penguins 41 23 16 2 48 2, Atlantic 4, Eastern 9, NHL
Panthers 42 19 20 3 41 3, Southeast 12, Eastern 26, NHL
                 
Team Stats
  GF GA PP% PK% Home Away L 10 Streak
Penguins 120 114 18.7 80.3 12-8-2 11-8-0 8-2-0 6 wins
Panthers 104 115 19.2 81.6 9-9-2 10-11-1 5-4-1 1 loss
                 
Team Leaders
  Stat Penguins   Stat Panthers
Goals 19 Malkin Goals 20 Jokinen
Assists 40 Crosby Assists 21 Jokinen
Points 57 Crosby Points 41 Jokinen
PIMs 68 Malone PIMs 47 Horton
Wins 9 Fleury Wins 18 Vokoun
 
Injuries
Penguins Injury Panthers Injury
Roberts, IR
Eaton, IR
Fleury, IR
Talbot, IR
 		 Broken Fibula
Torn ACL
Ankle Sprain
Ankle Sprain
 		 Peltonen, IR
Murray, IR
Van Ryn, IR
Murphy, IR
Welch, IR		 Broken Foot
Right Shoulder Surgery
Right Wrist
Bruised Shoulder
Shoulder Surgery
       
Note: Info up-to-date as of 12:30 pm, Tuesday, January 8, 2008.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Jan 8, 03:36 PM

    Matt, any word on when Talbot might be back? Dang, I miss him.
    Here’s to riding the Conklin Wave.

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jan 8, 04:45 PM

    Talbot is close — but with Stone getting the call from the Baby Penguins, it would appear Talbot is at least three games from returning. Additionally, I’m not quite sure he would be reinserted into the lineup immediately if he was ready right now. The team is playing so well that nothing should be changed. Now, once they lose — or if a player gets hurt — that’s a different story.

    By the way, how do you like the alternate logos of the day? I hate that Penguins logo, but I think it’s comparable to that Panthers logo. Might as well change things up on occasion, right?

  3. DaBich

    Jan 9, 06:38 AM

    I LOVE the Pittsburgh Gold…now the Panther’s palm tree cracks me up!
    Nothing wrong with new stuff now and then, Matt, mix it up! I think EVERYONE does a great job on FF!

  4. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jan 9, 12:09 PM

    Maybe the new term should be Faceoff Factor gold?

    Thanks for the compliments — nothing but big plans for the future!

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