Penguins 4 - 2 Panthers
Final
  for this game

Playoff-bound Pens aim for season sweep of Panthers

Apr 2, 2011 - 4:03 PM (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will attempt to extend their chase of the Atlantic Division title and record their first ever season-series sweep of the Florida Panthers this evening at BankAtlantic Center.

The Penguins picked up a fourth straight shootout victory last Sunday at home versus the Panthers, but have since dropped back-to-back regulation games to the Flyers and Lightning. That has Pittsburgh four points back of first- place Philadelphia with four games left to play, though the Flyers are idle today before hosting the Rangers on Sunday.

After a three-goal loss at home to the Flyers on Tuesday, the Penguins suffered a 2-1 setback at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Michael Rupp had the lone goal and Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves for Pittsburgh, which had a four-game road winning streak snapped.

"We're getting chances. I liked our game tonight, minus some of the first period," Rupp said.

Pittsburgh is 21-11-6 on the road this season and has already locked up a postseason spot. It sits fourth overall in the East, three points up on Tampa Bay.

James Neal and Alex Kovalev had shootout goals when the Penguins bested the Panthers last weekend for their eighth victory in the past 10 meetings in this series. Fleury got the win with 37 saves, evening his career mark against Florida to 6-6 with a 3.10 goals-against average.

Pittsburgh has won five of its last eight in Sunrise.

The Panthers will be trying to avoid their longest losing streak in over five years this evening as they bring an 0-4-3 skid into this meeting. Florida has lost seven straight for the first time since Feb. 1-March 2 of last season and hasn't dropped eight consecutive games since an 0-8-4 rut from Oct. 27-Nov. 23, 2005.

The Panthers most recent setback came on Thursday, a 4-1 loss to the Senators. Florida and Ottawa are now tied for last in the East with 70 points each.

Michal Repik had the lone goal and Scott Clemmensen made just 19 saves. Tomas Vokoun was sidelined with a back injury.

"We got some momentum and they got one right back," Repik said of his second- period tally that was followed 34 seconds later by an Ottawa goal. "It's hard coming back after that."

Clemmensen could get the start again tonight and is 4-4-2 with a 2.47 GAA versus the Penguins.






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