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Pens aim to avoid third straight loss in clash with Coyotes

Dec 20, 2010 - 4:13 PM (Sports Network) - The well-rested Pittsburgh Penguins will try to avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the traveling Phoenix Coyotes tonight at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Penguins won 12 straight games from Nov. 17-Dec. 11, but had that winning streak snapped last Tuesday in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh was dealt another loss the following night against the visiting New York Rangers and tonight is in danger of dropping three in a row for the first time since it went 0-2-1 from Oct. 23-29.

Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead on Evgeni Malkin's goal with 13 seconds left in the first period in Wednesday's test against the Rangers, but that would be the only score of the night for the Pens. Erik Christensen and Alex Frolov scored 15 seconds apart in the third period to account for two of New York's four third-period goal in a 4-1 decision.

With two straight losses to Atlantic Division opponents, the Penguins have suffered consecutive defeats for the first time since dropping games to Dallas and Anaheim on November 3-5.

However, Sidney Crosby assisted on Malkin's goal to extend his point streak to a career-high 20 games. He has totaled 20 goals and 19 assists during the run and leads the NHL in goals (26) and points (54) this season.

Brent Johnson was charged with all four goals on 22 shots in Wednesday's loss.

"There's no excuses. You can't give up four goals in the third period," Johnson said.

Tonight marks the middle portion of a three-game homestand for Pittsburgh, which had won seven straight on home ice prior to the loss to the Rangers. The Pens are 10-6-1 overall in their first season at CONSOL Energy Center and will close this residency Wednesday night against Florida.

The Coyotes, meanwhile, are 1-1-1 so far on a six-game road trip and Phoenix is 9-5-3 away from the desert on the season.

Phoenix began the swing with Wednesday's loss in New Jersey, but the Coyotes earned a point the following night in a shootout loss to the Rangers before posting Saturday's shootout victory over the New York Islanders.

Radim Vrbata scored the first goal of the game and also lit the lamp in the second round of the shootout to help lift the Coyotes to Saturday's 4-3 decision at Nassau Coliseum.

Wojtek Wolski and Martin Hanzal also scored in regulation for the Coyotes, while Jason LaBarbera made 41 saves. LaBarbera made his second straight start in place of No. 1 netminder Ilya Bryzgalov, who is questionable for tonight with flu-like symptoms.

"I was excited ... it was probably the first time in two years I got to play two games in a row like that," LaBarbera said. "It's a good opportunity right now to play some games. You've just got to give the guys a chance to win every night and just build from there."

On the injury front for Pittsburgh, forward and Crosby linemate Chris Kunitz is questionable for tonight after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.

Tonight's tilt marks the second and final regular-season meeting between the Pens and Coyotes this season. The Penguins notched a shootout victory on Nov. 6 in Arizona, ending a two-game series' slide against Phoenix. The Coyotes have three wins in their last four trips to the Steel City.