Record: 13-22-5
Leading scorers: Ilya Kovalchuk (13G, 26A, 39pts), Vyacheslav Kozlov (16G, 20A, 36pts)
Blogs: DO THE THRASHERS HAVE LARGE TALONS?
Here we go again. Doesn't it feel like the Penguins just played them? In any case, this should hopefully be the game that turns it around for the Penguins (I know, I've said it for five straight games already). Let's take a look at the previous matchups this season:
On paper...er, blog, it would appear this game is in favor of the Pens. But as we've discovered in other instances this season it's far too sketchy too make those kinds of predictions.
The Thrashers are 1-4-1 in their last six, their only win of 2009 coming against the Lightning in a shootout on January 2 [EDIT: Canucks, thanks HockeyWench]. Kari Lehtonen (4-9-2) is back in net for the Thrash and has yet to really play lights out hockey. Earlier in the season he was bothered by flu and back symptoms that have subsided enough for him to return to the ice.
Former Pen Colby Armstrong has lit the lamp 10 times this season, bringing him only six short of his career-high 16 during the Penguins' 2005-06 season. I'd imagine he'll accomplish this feat in 09, barring injury of course.
Unless the Pens are comfortable with losing their sixth straight (I'm sure they're not) then tonight's 7:30 game is a must win.
Injuries after the jump.