Florida: 9-6-3 (21PTS)
Pittsburgh: 11-5-3 (25PTS)
Season Series: 0-1-0
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, ROOT Sports
Radio: 560 WQAM
The Cats host the Penguins for the first of two games this season. As the Panthers faithful know, the Penguins are one of a number of teams who always attract a large number of away fans. The Cats have had a losing record against the Pens for the last few seasons, but do occasionally bust out a win. Today is the first game of a 4 game home stand following a 1-1 road trip. The Cats have not been particularly good at home thus far in the season and are hoping to make a strong statement. After today, the Panthers host the Devils and Rangers before playing a post-Thanksgiving home and home series against the Lightning.The Penguins will once again be without star center Sidney Crosby, but they’re tearing up the standings without him. The Cats are the victims of a rash of injuries and will be missing 4 starting forwards and a backup goaltender today.
More from our Pittsburgh cohorts at PensBurgh.
Penguins vs Panthers coverage at SB Nation.
TSN Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
The Penguins beat the Panthers 4-2 in Pittsburgh in early October. Jose Theodore made 29 saves in the loss. Marc-Andre Fleury had the win for the Penguins and Richard Park scored the game winner. Marcel Goc and Tomas Fleischmann had the goals for the Cats
Last game
The Panthers were completely outworked by the St. Louis Blues in a 4-1 road loss. Mike Santorelli had the only goal for the Panthers.
Lineup
With Evgenii Dadonov and Tim Kennedy already recalled to replace injured forwards Scottie Upshall and Matt Bradley, center Marcel Goc went down before the last game in St. Louis. Coach Kevin Dineen responded by dressing 7 defensemen and rotating 11 forwards. That game was a 4-1 loss, so the Panthers recalled forward Michal Repik yesterday. Scott Clemmensen will miss today’s game with what is described as “soreness” lingering from his first game of the season on Tuesday. Jacob Markstrom has been recalled from San Antonio to take his place.
Injuries
- F Mikael Samuelsson (rehab from abdominal surgery), 10/24, week to week
- F Scottie Upshall (hip), 11/10, 6 to 8 weeks
- F Matt Bradley (undisclosed), 11/16, 1 week
- F Marcel Goc (undisclosed), 11/16, day to day
- G Scott Clemmensen (undisclosed soreness), 11/19, unknown
Healthy Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby OR
- D Erik Gudbranson
Starting goaltenders:
Jose Theodore will start today. Kevin Dineen was quoted as saying the situation with Clemmensen is “short term” but did not rule out Markstrom getting a start Monday against the Devils.
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Sturm-Santorelli-Dadonov
- Bergenheim-Kopecky-Skille
- Kennedy-Matthias-Repik
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski-Gudbranson/Ellerby
- Kulikov-Weaver