Monday, December 04, 2006

Game #26 - vs Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers (8-15-5, 21 pts) at Pittsburgh Penguins (11-10-4, 26 pts)

The Panthers have scored only one goal in the last four games. They've lost six straight. Their power play has not converted in it's last 17 chances. Do these all sound like reasons the Penguins should win this game? I think so.

The Panthers have the second ranked power play unit in the East, at 20.2%. Their penalty kill has stopped 15 of 17 chances in their last 4 games. The Panthers have out shot their opponents in 5 of their last 6 games. Do these all sound like things that will give the Penguins trouble in this game? Yep - I think so again.

The Pens should win this one at home.

The Pens NEED to win this one at home.

The lineup has gone through some shakeups over the last few days:
  • Andre Roy is gone.
  • Noah Welch is back in Wilkes-Barre.
  • Micki Dupont and Alain Nasreddine are with the big club.
  • Ryan Malone is likely to play (as of this writing).
  • Either Melichar, Scuderi or Orpik is likely to be a healthy scratch, as the Pens have 7 defensemen, and they're not likely to bring the new guys up here to scratch them.
In other words, Ray Shero and Michel Therrien are trying to get the attention of the team. They're starting to slide, and shy of doing anything totally crazy, this is a nice way of telling the team to pick it up.

Now I'm going to introduce a Brand New Feature here at Igloo Dreams - it's a featured blog from the opponent! Wow! I can barely contain the excitement! Anyway... it's sometimes interesting to see how other teams perceive the Pens, or the current situation of their team.

Florida Panthers Blog - On Frozen Pond
This is a blog published by the Miami Herald, so I'm not so sure about honest reactions (just like listening to the Steelers' apologists here in Pittsburgh), but he does note that Auld will start in goal against the Pens and Nieuwendyk won't make the trip.

I'm looking for a convincing home win for the Pens with multiple point nights from Crosby, Malkin and Eckman.

Let's Go Pens!

4 comments:

faux rumors said...

1) This is definitly a team to 'right the ship' against! The Panthers have been God-awful the past few weeks
2) If the Pens lose this one, they will be in trouble.

Anonymous said...

... if the Pens lose this one I think Therrien might be in trouble!

Pat said...

That's the rumor around here, Will - that Therrien will be gone if the Pens lose tonight... but I kind of doubt it - would you start Thibault if your job depended on it?

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAAHAH

nuf said :)