• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Conklin, Penguins aim for eighth straight win

Jan 10, 2008 - 1:56 PM Pittsburgh (24-16-2) at Tampa Bay (16-22-5) 7:30 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - Ty Conklin and the Pittsburgh Penguins aim for an eighth straight win when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Signed as a free agent to provide depth at goaltender, Conklin has emerged as an unlikely hero.

The team's No. 1 goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been out since December 7 with a high ankle sprain. Backup Dany Sabourin then went just 2-4-0 with a 3.32 goal-against average in relief, opening the door for Conklin.

The 31-year-old, who was called up after Fleury's injury, has started each game during the winning streak.

Conklin has allowed just nine goals in seven games, leading the Penguins to their longest winning streak since reeling off 10 in a row from January 28 - February 15, 1999.

Overall, he is 8-0 with a 1.88 GAA since taking over for Sabourin. On Tuesday Conklin stopped 27 shots and Sidney Crosby scored a goal and tallied an assist in a 3-1 win over Florida.

Conklin will surely be tested by Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier, who leads the league with 63 points. Lecavalier had an assist in Tampa Bay's 5-3 win over New York on Tuesday to extend his points streak to five games.

The Lightning have been struggling overall, however, with a 2-8-2 record in their last dozen games.