The Penguins continue to battle roster turmoil as they host the Florida Panthers in the first game of a home-and-home series.
In their two previous home-and-home series, the Penguins lost once in regulation and once in overtime with the New York BIslanders and split with the Carolina Hurricanes.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: The Florida Panthers come into town on a roll, having won back-to-back games in dramatic fashion. First, they defeated the Washington Capitals in an NHL-record 20 round shootout on Tuesday. Then, they beat the Flyers 2-1 in Philadelphia on Thursday, also in a shootout.
Here’s the video of the 20-round shootout, which includes goals from former Penguins Brooks Orpik for Washington and Jussi Jokinen for Florida.
[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″ link=”http://youtu.be/TEz1u4xHHsQ”]
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The Panthers have been in an NHL-leading eight shootouts this season, winning four and losing four. They’ve had five other games go to overtime, and have a 1-4 record in the extra period.
In goal for Florida will be veteran netminder Roberto Luongo. In 26 career games against the Penguins, he has a .910 save percentage and a 13-8-4 record.
FAMILIAR FACES:Jokinen, who played the last season and a half in Pittsburgh, will be in the lineup for the Panthers after signing a four-year $16 million contract in the offseason. Jokinen has three goals and leads the Panthers with 13 assists in 29 games so far this season.
Pittsburgh native Vince Trocheck will take to Consol Energy Center ice for the first time as an NHL player. He has two goals and four assists in eight games with the Panthers this season.
“I have the biggest Italian family and they’ll all be there. Everyone is asking for tickets so I have a good 50 people right now on the list for tickets,” said Trocheck.
THE 4077: Penguins right-winger Craig Adams will miss tonight’s game with an undisclosed injury. He skated before morning skate but the team decided he would be unable to go. His franchise-record games played streak will end at 319.
Defenseman Olli Maatta, already sidelined with his second shoulder injury in less than a year, is the third Penguins player to with a confirmed case of the mumps. Maatta was supposed to get a second opinion on his injured shoulder on Monday, but the results of that examination, and any timetable for his return, have not been announced.
Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who left the Penguins 1-0 overtime victory over Colorado on Thursday after the first period with an injury, is expected to miss at least three games, but is still undergoing testing, and the nature of his injury has not been revealed.
Paul Martin, who finished Thursday night’s game, did not practice with the team today and will miss tonight’s game with an undisclosed ailment.
Left-winger Chris Kunitz, who has been skating with the team, is expected to make his return to the lineup this evening. He has been sidelined for the last eight games with a fractured foot.
Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, who was also being tested for the virus, has a clean bill of health, but has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury. He worked out before practice along with Beau Bennett, who is over the mumps, but still working his way back from a right knee injury.
UP AND DOWN: Defensemen Taylor Chorney and Derrick Pouliot were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League this morning.
Pouliot, 20, was the eighth overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, which was acquired by Pittsburgh from Carolina as part of the Jordan Staal trade. He played four seasons of junior hockey with Portland of the Western Hockey League, where he was under the tutelage of current Penguins bench boss Mike Johnston.
In 23 games as a rookie in Wilkes-Barre, he has seven goals (four on the power play), 13 assists and 12 penalty minutes. He is expected to make his NHL debut this evening alongside veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi and should also see time on the second power-play unit.
Chorney was signed as a free agent from the Saint Louis Blues this offseason. The 27-year old native of Thunder Bay, Ontario has 61 career NHL games with the Blues and the Edmonton Oilers. In 25 AHL games this season, he has two goals, four assists, and is a plus-15. Chorney is not expected to dress tonight.
Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff was returned to Wilkes-Barre after serving as Marc-Andre Fleury’s backup during Thursday’s game. Thomas Greiss, who was held out as a precaution while being tested for the mumps, does not have the disease and is back in the lineup.
MINOR MATTERS: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (16-10-3, 1st AHL East) lost 4-2 to the Albany Devils on Friday. Pouliot and Conor Sheary scored for the Penguins. Matt Murray made 23 saves while taking the loss.
Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos will also captain the AHL Eastern Conference All-Stars at the AHL All-Star Game in Utica, New York on January 26. Pittsburgh assistant general manager Bill Guerin will be an honorary captain. The playing rosters have not been announced.
The Penguins will play in Binghamton tonight. They signed defenseman Paul Cianfrini to a professional try-out. Cianfrini will be making his AHL debut. He has one goal, two assists, 2 penalty minutes, and is a plus-1 in 17 games with the Wheeling Nailers this season.
The Nailers (12-11, 3rd ECHL North) lost 1-0 to the Greenville Road Warriors. Franky Palazzese made 35 saves in the loss. The teams will meet again tonight at 7:35 p.m. at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia.
BRING YOUR OWN BRANDY: The Stanley Cup will be at the Galleria Mall in Johnstown on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. VIP passes are available for $20, which will get visitors an 8×10 photo of themselves with the cup, a Johnstown Tomahawks souvenir, and a ticket voucher for the game on Sunday, January 11 against the Springfield Jr. Blues.
The Tomahawks play in the North American Hockey League, the second-highest level junior league in the United States. Their next home game at Cambria County War Memorial Arena is Friday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.
