Game #72 - vs Carolina Hurricanes

Game 72

Hurricanes (29-33-8, 66 points) at Penguins (42-24-5, 89 points)

Why does it matter?
Another chance for two points, and another chance to keep the pressure on the Devils to win. Also, a chance to even the wins against the Canes, who have beaten the Pens twice this season.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -Glass half full - if you ignore the games against the Devils, the Pens are 6-0-1 since the break.
  
• Canes - Since the end of January, the Canes have been one of the better teams in the NHL.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens get to the power play? The Canes don't take many penalties, but they allow goals when they do.
• Will the same effort be there from the last game against the Canes, but with better goaltending this time?
• Will Geno play? He skated yesterday and might play. If I'm HCDB, I sit him one more game - you have Detroit and Washington as your next two opponents.
• Finally! Fleury got the shutout! I removed my long-standing question!
  

Keys to the game

• Stop Staal and Whitney. They always seem to kill the Penguins.
• Control the boards and dominate the offensive zone time. The goals will go in if the effort is there.
• Clean up the mental mistakes - again. This is an ongoing process - get the mind into the playoff mindset so you're ready when they arrive.