Coyotes at Penguins
THE STORY: The march of the Penguins continues as Pittsburgh brings a season-high five-game winning streak into its home meeting with the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday. Pittsburgh has been bowling over opponents, averaging 4.6 goals during that span. Phoenix knows firsthand how dangerous the Penguins can be. It has allowed 10 goals in its last two meetings with Pittsburgh – both losses – and has given up a total of nine goals in its last two outings overall – both losses. The Penguins have won five of their last seven meetings with the Coyotes.
TV: 7 p.m. ROOT Sports (Penguins), FS Arizona (Coyotes)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (33-23-9): After posting a red-hot 11-0-1 record in February, the Coyotes are wishing they could turn the calendar back following a 0-2 start to March. That two-game slide was an abrupt stop for a six-game winning streak. Phoenix has been slow out of the blocks in recent games, getting outscored 10-2 in the first period over the past six outings. That includes a 4-0 count in the last two. However, on the season, the Coyotes have only been outscored 50-49 in the opening period.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (38-21-5): As outstanding as Evgeni Malkin has been since the All-Star break, he may have to share the spotlight with Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been just as big a part of Pittsburgh’s success as the scoring attack, allowing only five goals on 131 shots over his last four starts. Fleury turned away 35 shots in a 5-1 victory over Colorado on Saturday, taking a shutout into the third period. He stopped 26 of 27 shots in his last start versus the Coyotes.
OVERTIME:
1. The Penguins lost another star player to a possible concussion when defenseman Kris Letang left Wednesday’s win over Dallas with a head injury. He didn't play Saturday and was to be reevaluated Sunday.
2. After allowing only 1.42 goals against in February (lowest in the NHL), the Coyotes lug a 4.5 goals against average in their two games in March – fourth most in the league.
3. Fleury is one shutout away from becoming the Penguins' all-time franchise leader. He is tied with Tom Barrasso at 22.