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Penguins try to find offense against Flyers

Oct 14, 2008 - 12:55 PM Philadelphia (0-2-0) at Pittsburgh (1-1-1) 7:30 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled to find the back of the net early in the new season. A meeting with the injury-plagued Philadelphia Flyers may be just what the team needs to jump-start the offense.

Pittsburgh hosts the Flyers on Tuesday in the first meeting between the teams since the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

The Penguins, who scored 240 goals in 2007-08, eventually advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals by ousting the Flyers in five games during the conference finals.

However, after opening the season with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh has scored one goal in each of its last two games - both losses. The Penguins decline in offense may be due to the departure of Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa, who signed as free agents with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings, respectively, during the offseason.

Pittsburgh should get back on track against the Flyers, who have already suffered a trio of injuries on defense.

Randy Jones is scheduled to have hip surgery and is expected to miss three to four months while Derian Hatcher suffered a fractured right tibia against the Boston Bruins on March 15 and his future is unclear after starting the campaign on injured reserve. Philadelphia is also without Ryan Parent, who is on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

In an effort to boost their depleted blue line, the Flyers acquired defenseman Andrew Alberts from the Bruins on Monday in exchange for left wing Ned Lukacevic and a conditional pick in 2009.