Depending on how you choose to look at it, the Penguins take the ice tonight at PPG Paints Arena with the modest momentum of a 4-2-2 stretch after a six-game losing streak, or as a team that can’t seem to overcome what coach Mike Sullivan often refers to as “the details”, which lead to crushing losses, like Sunday’s overtime disappointment against New Jersey. In that game, defenseman Marcus Pettersson jumped on the ice to join a rush and blasted a shot into the net for what would have been the game-winner, but he clearly left the bench too soon and was called for a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty that led to the Devils’ game-winning power play goal.
The Pens play a Florida Panthers team that has been hot lately, despite a 6-2 loss last night to the New York Rangers. The Panthers were 7-2-1 in their last 10 games heading into last night. Florida lost forward Sam Bennett last night when he went hard into the boards skates first and left the game. Coach Paul Maurice said Bennett would probably not play tonight.
The Penguins won, 4-02 the last time they played the Panthers, on December 15th. That was the final game of a seven-game winning streak for the Pens.
The airtime tonight is six o’clock on 92.5 FM U92, with faceoff shortly after seven.
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