Who would have thought that the Penguins might be a little
disappointed to have to return to Pittsburgh? Then again, the recent success
the Lightning have had in the Steel City might have something to do with that.
Still perfect on the road, the Penguins return to Mellon Arena tonight to face
the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Pittsburgh has just one loss on the season in seven games, a 3-0 blanking at
home by Phoenix. In addition to a season-opening victory over the Rangers on
October 2, the Penguins have won their first five road games for the first
time in club history.
That includes a perfect four-game road trip that culminated with a 3-2
shootout victory over Carolina on Wednesday in a rematch of last season's
Eastern Conference finals.
The Penguins needed six rounds to top the Hurricanes, as Chris Kunitz beat
Carolina goaltender Cam Ward between the pads after Marc-Andre Fleury had
stopped Ray Whitney to begin the round.
Evgeni Malkin registered a goal and an assist, while Mike Rupp also tallied
for Pittsburgh, which swept Carolina in the best-of-seven set last postseason.
"We were playing well. It was a mistake and a little bit of puck management
that allowed [Carolina] to get back in the game but I think the general
feeling is that we are playing well, we are doing good things, we are playing
the right way," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said.
Pittsburgh went 25-13-3 at home last year, splitting two games at Mellon Arena
against the Lightning. Though Tampa Bay has lost two of its last three in the
Steel City, it has won eight of its last 10 trips there.
The Lightning, who have lost three in a row and five of six to the Penguins
overall, are coming off their worst setback of the season, a 7-1 pasting in
Ottawa on Thursday that halted a two-game win streak.
"This is certainly a team that at the end of year we might be fighting to get
into the playoffs," Lightning forward Alex Tanguay said after the game.
"Tonight wasn't a very good effort."
Former Penguin Ryan Malone had the lone goal, his sixth of the season. Malone
spent his first four seasons with Pittsburgh, notching 169 points in 299
games, and has a goal and an assist in four games against his former club.
However, Mike Smith allowed all seven goals on 35 shots versus the Senators,
dropping him to 0-2-2 with a 4.08 goals against average and .864 save
percentage on the season.
Backup Antero Niittymaki, meanwhile, has won both of his starts, halting 55-
of-59 shots. He is just 4-5-3 with a 4.19 GAA in his career versus the
Penguins, while Smith is 1-3-0 with a 2.27 GAA.
Fleury went 3-1-0 with a 2.47 GAA in his four starts versus the Lightning last
year.
Tampa Bay is 0-2-1 on the road this year and plays four straight at home
following this contest.
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