After allowing Winnipeg – not exactly known as a scoring juggernaut through 2013 – to hang seven goals on their collective head Thursday, the Panthers return home with a bloated league-worst 3.45 GA only to run squarely into Pittsburgh’s first-overall offense.
Though the Pens have produced a mighty 3.29 goals per game, they haven’t dominated Florida on the scoresheet this season: the teams split two games played thus far with each scoring seven times, though the Cats benefited from four powerplay markers (and a Tomas Kopecky hat trick) in a 6-4 victory on February 26, their last meeting. Since 2009, however, Pittsburgh has indeed dominated Florida in the “W” column, taking 13 of 17 matches, with six of those victories requiring extra time.
OT or not, these clubs typically pump out some memorable hockey against each other regardless of placement in the standings.
Programming note: tonight’s event will be televised on Sun Sports, not FS-Florida. Four upcoming games have also been moved.
As always check out Pensburgh for a closer look at this evening’s opponent; the LBC Live GameThread sets sail around 7 p.m. ET. Have a great day, all.