[k4sum1]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/rickus25/florida.pngvs http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/rickus25/pittsburghmain.png
http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc321/kasumigdts/GDT%20Headers/BAC%20Times/bac500.jpg

PENGUINS (26-15-1) at PANTHERS (16-18-7)

Last 10: Pittsburgh 5-5-0; Florida 5-4-1


Season Series: Fourth and final meeting of the regular season. Pittsburgh has won the previous three by identical 3-2 scores, either in overtime or a shootout. As a result, Florida has gained a point from each game, but the Panthers will be seeking their first victory against the Penguins since April 5, 2009.

Big Story: The defending Stanley Cup champions have hit a rough patch, dropping four consecutive games and five of their last six, all in regulation. That includes a pair of losses to New Jersey, which has opened up a four-point lead in the Atlantic Division. This is Pittsburgh's second game in the state of Florida in 24 hours and concludes a four-game road trip.

Team Scope:

Penguins: After erupting for eight goals in its last win, Dec. 23 against Ottawa, Pittsburgh has scored only seven during its current losing streak. The Penguins were shut out for the second straight time facing Martin Brodeur and the Devils, 2-0 on Wednesday, then lost in Tampa Bay by a 3-1 score on Saturday. Bill Guerin's first-period goal tied the game temporarily but was all Lightning goalie Mike Smith would surrender.

"There's no real excuses," captain Sidney Crosby said. "We're not executing and we're paying the price for it. We've got a group who's got a lot of character and pride in their game, but our focus has got to be on executing."

Panthers: This is the first game for Florida since a 5-4 loss to Montreal on New Year's Eve, its third in a row. The Panthers shot themselves in the foot with a pair of penalties for delay of game after Nathan Horton and Jordan Leopold put pucks over the glass. They came 13 seconds apart bridging the second and third periods, and Marc-Andre Bergeron took advantage of the ensuing 5-on-3 by scoring the go-ahead goal.

"It was suicide," coach Peter DeBoer said. "We put ourselves in that position and we paid for it. You can't shoot yourself in the foot like that and win too many games."

Who's Hot: Guerin has four goals, three assists and 23 shots on goal in the Penguins' last five games. Backup goalie Brent Johnson, who could start Sunday, has stopped 74 of 77 shots for a .961 save percentage in his last three appearances. … Michael Frolik has two goals and three assists for the Panthers in his last five games.

Injury Report: Pittsburgh defenseman Sergei Gonchar bruised his right foot blocking a shot against New Jersey and didn't play Saturday. … Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has missed the last two weeks with a knee injury, while forwards David Booth (concussion) and Kenndal McArdle (shoulder/arm) remain on injured reserve.

Stat Pack: The Penguins also had a four-game losing streak in November and responded by winning five of their next six and 14 of 19. … Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun picked up his second assist of the season against the Canadiens.

Puck Drop: "The urgency level now should be there if it has not been," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said Saturday. "And maybe it hasn't been, looking at our record over the last few games."

[Imber]

I'll be there for the first time in a while. I'm giving them a chance to win my excitement back with an exciting, hard fought game today. Once again we have rest on our side against a team on a back to back on the road. A loss today, and I may start pulling for Taylor Hall.

[SelanneGirl]

LET'S GO PENS!

[JoeyHurricane]

Prediction, 3-2 Pens in Overtime on the Power Play ^_^

[CatWoman34]

LET'S GO PANTHERS!

^_^ ^_^ :dance:

I'll be watching the ticker from the warmth of the ACC. It's effing freezing outside and snowing.

[drscruf]

Not heading to this one. Too beat after a miserable week of work nights and, honestly, it's not worth the drive to see the refs hand Crybaby another game on a plate. Imber, you're setting yourself up for failure. There's no way the refs let the Pens lose this one.

[mserra66]

LET'S GO PENS!

Let's get back on the winning track.

[Taco]

GO PENGUINS!!!!!!!!!!

[Sabresfan2630]

Go Pens!!!

[JoeyHurricane]

TYLERRRRRRRR KENNNNEDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY






































KENNEDYYYYYYYYY

[mserra66]

woooooooooo. sid. nice one. :shock1:

[Cujorulesdtown90]

Whoever scored the 4-2 goal, that was a freaking rocket!

[drscruf]

Is it too late for the refs to call a zillion penalties so Cindy can get a few power play goals? :shocking:

HA!

Looks like the Panthers will finally get a well-deserved win against the Pens. About damn time.

EDIT: And as I type this, Stillman gets 4 for highsticking. LOL! The NHL is such a joke league.

[sharkdivmstr]

The refs are STILL fucking trying to give the game away!!!! 4 min call from the linesman! I've never seen it before and now the only two times I've EVER SEEN IT are when the Cats play the Pens...

[drscruf]

NHL=joke.

I'm actually waiting for them to give the Pens the 5-on-3...

***wondering where the Pens fans went...***

This point has been edited by drscruf: 03 January 2010 - 07:25 PM

[drscruf]

THROW THE HATS, BABY!!!

DVO makes it 6-2!!!!!! Good night, so long, don't let the doors hit you in the ass on the way out of the BAC, you idiot zergs!!!!!

[necrotraficante]

Nice win, Cats!

Also, are visiting fans going to be referred to as Zergs now? If so, I like it :shocking:

[Imber]

Yeah wow, I vowed to myself before this game that I wouldn't bring up the refs, but this was too good to resist. It wouldn't have been so bad if the refs hadn't missed the same damn call on the Penguins two minutes earlier. The Penguins player high sticks or elbows Garrison in the face, and no call. Then the reverse happens, no call, and then the Penguins coaching staff starts bitching and moaning to the officials and they call it. I've never seen a coaching staff make a call before. I'm just glad we don't have to play this team again this year. We are already biased against by officials enough, so we don't need to the play the one team that's most favored.

This point has been edited by Imber: 03 January 2010 - 08:39 PM

[Imber]

As far as the game is concerned though, what a great game to be at. I don't think Pittsburgh fans realize that these are hockey games, as there are always more people in Steelers jerseys than Penguins gear. I thought we were screwed in the first period, but Pittsburgh ran out of gas as the game went on, and our rest finally did something for us. Now we've got to take this momentum on the road and do some damage.

[StingerLover]

Wow! Congrats. Oh and thanks for messing me up in the bookie! :rolf2: