Thursday, March 6, 2008

Game Preview: Two Smokin Goalies

The Penguins go for a four game season sweep of the Florida Panthers tonight. The three previous starts were all won by Ty Conklin, who won't be in net tonight.

Florida backup goalie (and noted Ice-Girl eyer) Craig Anderson has gotten himself into quite a groove of late. He's stopped 105 straight shots in the past 147:46 he's played, earning 2 straight shutouts in the process.

Not to be too outdone, Marc-Andre Fleury has stopped 97% of the shots fired his way (66 of 68), for a 0.97 GAA and a shutout in his first two starts back from injury.

If you couldn't tell, the story is all about the goalies today.

Tonight is the beginning of a seven game homestand for the Panthers. There's the old hockey adage of the first game at home after a road-trip being a letdown. Florida has a team/pysche that could easily be described as fragile. A quick start could break their spirit, especially since they've seen Anderson play so well of late.

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