The Florida Panthers (33-15-4) will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (23-17-9) for the final time tonight at PPG Paints Arena to open a three-game road trip. After a cold start to the stretch run, the Cats have posted consecutive victories over the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. Sergei Bobrovsky backstopped both wins and posted his 41st career shutout in the 4-0 whitewashing of the Avalanche to earn Second Star of the Week honors from the NHL. Matthew Tkachuk, who had two assists against Colorado, has been on a tear in 2024, amassing 14 goals and 29 points since January 1.
The Penguins returned to action with an impressive 3-0 win over Winnipeg, but back-to-back one-goal losses on the road to the Minnesota Wild and the Jets since then have them stuck seven points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ageless wonder Sidney Crosby leads the team goals (28) and points (52) with Jack Guentzel right behind him with 51 points. Pittsburgh will try to avoid being swept by the Panthers, who took the first two meetings of the season series.
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET
- WHERE: PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
- ON THE TUBE: TRU, TNT, MAX
- ON THE DIAL: 96.5 WPOW-FM HD2 (D/B), 1230 The Gambler (PB), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)
- SOCIALS: #TimeToHunt, #LetsGoPens, #FLAvsPIT, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Tux Pucks
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 3 of 3 (2-0)
- LAST MEETING: FLA 3, @PIT 2 (SO) – (Recap) 1/26/2024
- NEXT MEETING: Playoffs or 2024-25 regular season
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Florida: Bobrovsky (25-10-2 .913 / 2.43 3SO) Pittsburgh: Jarry (14-15-4 .916 / 2.44 6SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Pittsburgh
Wednesday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)
Idle: BOS (74P), TBL (63P), TOR (62P), DET (60P), MTL (52P), BUF (50P), OTT (46P)