Penguins at Panthers
The Florida Panthers have dropped two games in a row but they will be trying to end a much longer drought when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. The Panthers have not posted a regulation victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions in 10 consecutive meetings, including a 4-3 setback in Pittsburgh on Oct. 14.
Florida followed up the narrow defeat against the Penguins with a dud at Philadelphia, permitting four second-period goals in a 5-1 drubbing. It marked the fifth straight game in which the Panthers allowed the opening goal and coach Bob Boughner admitted "there was a bit of a letdown" after his team fell behind early once again. The Penguins have won four of five since opening the season by surrendering 15 goals in a pair of losses, rallying for a 5-4 overtime victory at the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh is 8-0-2 during the 10-game point streak against Florida - the longest unbeaten stretch in the series history.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET; TVA, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FSN Florida
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (4-2-1): Captain Sidney Crosby ended a four-game goal-scoring drought by scoring twice, including what proved to be the deciding tally, in Saturday's victory over Florida. Crosby came through again in the clutch against the Rangers, forcing overtime by netting the tying tally with 56 seconds left in regulation to boost his point total to nine in seven games. Defenseman Olli Maatta has already matched last season's total of seven points after extending his point streak to five games.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2-3-0): Evgenii Dadonov shifted back to the top line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov while the second unit featured Vincent Trocheck centering Jamie McGinn and Radim Vrbata at practice Thursday. Rookie Owen Tippett, the No. 10 overall pick in this year's draft, made his NHL debut against the Flyers and responded by registering a game-high seven shots on goal in just 11 minutes, 39 seconds. That earned him a bump up to the third line with Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann.
OVERTIME
1. Panthers G Roberto Luongo, tied with Curtis Joseph for fourth place on the all-time wins list with 454, gets the start Friday.
2. The Penguins are 6-for-17 on the power play over the past four games, but they have yielded five man-advantage goals in the past three.
3. Huberdeau scored twice against Pittsburgh last weekend, matching his goal output from 13 previous encounters versus the Penguins.