I Can't Watch | Penguins @ Panthers GNT

[evolver115]

Fleury's awesome yellow pads
PENGUINS (45-25-8) at PANTHERS (29-37-12)

TV: ROOT, FS-F (HD) Gametime: 7:00 pm

Last 10: Pittsburgh 6-4-0; Florida 2-5-3

Season series: The Penguins are going for a sweep in the fourth and final meeting of the season against the Panthers. They won the first two in regulation and earned a 2-1 shootout victory at home on Sunday.

Big story: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby continues to progress after being sidelined with a concussion since Jan. 5. Most recently, Crosby has been cleared to join the team in gameday skates, but is not yet cleared to practice.:pray2: While he looks to improve his health and conditioning, the Penguins aim to skate into the playoffs with as much momentum as they can muster. The Panthers have dropped to last in the East after losing their last seven games.

Team scope:

Penguins: After missing an opportunity to tie Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead Tuesday night, the Penguins had a shot to make a statement against Tampa Bay on Thursday in a potential first-round playoff preview, but came up short in a 2-1 loss. The consecutive losses came after a four-game winning streak with each game ending in a shootout. With four games remaining in the regular season -- three on the road -- the Penguins need wins to hang on to fourth place and the final home-ice berth in the opening round.

"We've got to finish strong," said forward Mike Rupp, who had the lone goal on Thursday. "Our goal is to have Game 1 [of the playoffs] in Pittsburgh."

Panthers: The Panthers played hard but lost in shootouts in the last two games of their road trip, but came up with a clunker in their return to BankAtlantic Center on Thursday, as Ottawa skated away with a 4-1 win.

"Disappointing effort," coach Peter DeBoer said. "We haven't had many of them, but that's one for sure. We got beat in a lot of different areas on the ice. Our best players weren't good, from the goalie to the first line to our leading scorer to anybody. It was a rotten game."

Who's hot: Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been holding the fort for the Penguins between the pipes, giving up two or fewer goals in four of his past five games. .. Florida has seen solid outings from backup goalie Scott Clemmensen who has earned his team points in four of his past five outings.

Injury report: The Penguins' injury list includes Crosby (concussion), Evgeni Malkin (season-ending knee surgery) and Dustin Jeffrey (knee surgery). … Florida goaltender Tomas Vokoun hurt his back in the game at Pittsburgh last Sunday and hasn't played since. Alexander Sulzer (groin) is out; Jack Skille (ankle) may be ready to return.

Stat pack: Fleury ranks in the Top 10 among goalies in games played, wins, goals-against-average, minutes played and penalty minutes.

Puck drop: The Penguins will look to put forth a complete effort against the Panthers while looking to continue their chase of the Flyers for the Atlantic Division title -- they now trail by four points.

"I think it showed in the second and the third (against Tampa Bay) the way we can control a game and really press on a team," center Jordan Staal said. "If we start off like that and do that for three periods, it's tough for a team to face that."

 

[SFNL]

I thought he practiced yesterday....

 

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

The dreaded Penguins Florida swing....usually doesn't turn out well for the Pens...

 

[SFNL]

The dreaded Penguins Florida swing....usually doesn't turn out well for the Pens...

No, sir, it usually doesn't. I used to live in West Palm for years. I'd go to every Pens-Panthers game there was. Very little success, but it beats the hell out of watching the game on a computer. Glad to be home!

 

[evolver115]

I thought he practiced yesterday....

He did practice yesterday (Fri), as well as Thursday, and today. Sid may not be back for the regular season, but I'm thinking he's going to be back on the ice for the 1st round. It may not be game one, but I have faith he'll be back at some point for that series.

 

[postmaster]

I Can't Watch needs to be somewhere in the title.
Does he still post here?

 

[evolver115]

I Can't Watch needs to be somewhere in the title.
Does he still post here?

I haven't seen him here in a while, but i bet he's lurking in the shadows like most big cats like to do

on another note, can u unlock the OP so I can edit it?

 

[postmaster]

I haven't seen him here in a while, but i bet he's lurking in the shadows like most big cats like to do

on another note, can u unlock the OP so I can edit it?

I know I can change it, just let me know via post or PM

 

[pixburgher66]

In real need of a win today, and basically a win out would be nice. End the year with FLO, NJ, NYI, ATL. Those are four games which should be wins, and have to be to gain some momentum going into the postseason.

 

[SFNL]

In real need of a win today, and basically a win out would be nice. End the year with FLO, NJ, NYI, ATL. Those are four games which should be wins, and have to be to gain some momentum going into the postseason.

This..

 

[pixburgher66]

This is seriously one of our worst trips annually. We always have a late season Southern swing with Florida, Tampa, Atlanta, etc. and it never ends well. Something about it is just blah.

 

[postmaster]

This is seriously one of our worst trips annually. We always have a late season Southern swing with Florida, Tampa, Atlanta, etc. and it never ends well. Something about it is just blah.

Try going out to Vancouver, San Jose and Anaheim on road trips on a regular basis

 

[evolver115]

The Penguins need to find a way to get the power-play back on track. It is bordering on a complete collapse, and it will be vital come playoff time.

 

[SFNL]

The Penguins need to find a way to get the power-play back on track. It is bordering on a complete collapse, and it will be vital come playoff time.

Glad Mike Yeo isn't figuring out how to make it work w/ this cast.... just sayin

 

[pixburgher66]

You know, I've heard a bunch of stuff about the powerplay, and how Dan has exhausted a lot of time on it in practice and tried about everything, and can't find the problem. I mean, I can see what the problem is...the entry into the zone and faceoffs. We lose the faceoff, puck comes out of the zone, and one guy tries to take it in by himself or attempts lateral passes to guys who are flat footed. This and not getting enough point shots kill us.

 

[evolver115]

You know, I've heard a bunch of stuff about the powerplay, and how Dan has exhausted a lot of time on it in practice and tried about everything, and can't find the problem. I mean, I can see what the problem is...the entry into the zone and faceoffs. We lose the faceoff, puck comes out of the zone, and one guy tries to take it in by himself or attempts lateral passes to guys who are flat footed. This and not getting enough point shots kill us.

I think they need to consider putting Letestu out there for the powerplay if not for just his face-off ability. And if Martin is going to be on the point, shoot the damn puck sometime!!

 

[pixburgher66]

I think they need to consider putting Letestu out there for the powerplay if not for just his face-off ability. And if Martin is going to be on the point, shoot the damn puck sometime!!

Letestu has been getting some time on the Powerplay...so that's been better for the faceoffs alone, but we also need a guy infront of the net. Lately it's been Kovy, Neal, and a center (Staal or Testy) up front with Letang and Martin at the points. That's all well and good, but none of the front three want to get infront of the net. Kunitz needs a look with those guys, but then you don't have a center, blah blah blah, regardless, they have to look for dirty goals, even on the PP.

 

[evolver115]

I think the 'dirty goal' problem is also plaguing them on 5v5 as well. Just not enough mucking and grinding going on in the blue-paint.

It makes sense though when you think about it. You remove the firepower of Geno and Sid, and the guys who were doing the dirty work are now supposed to be providing the sniping and shooting... it's gonna fall short somewhere through the ranks, and that is a spot in their game that has serious signs of disappearing.

 

[pixburgher66]

Man...the Tampa loss really stings now that I see the Flyers lost again. We could've made some great ground up on them. 4 points back with 4 games remaining. Quite a stretch now to hope they lose 2 more and we win out. Not even sure that would end up with us getting the number one, because they probably hold the tiebreaker?

EDIT: They finish out with Rangers, Senators, Sabres, and Isles. Yeah, I suppose they could lose two of those...but highly unlikely that they do that and we beat Florida, NYI, Atlanta, NJ. Especially with Parise coming back for NJ.

 

[Darkstone42]

Staal needs to get his big frame in front of the net. He could be so effective as a screen if he were more willing to do it.