PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (39-26-8) vs PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (38-22-10)
IN PITTSBURGH @ 12:30
CATCH THIS ONE ON NBC
RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM
FLYERS BLOGS: BROAD STREET HOCKEY
NOTES
If you came into this game expecting playoff hockey then you won't be disappointed. Both teams are currently tied in the East with 86 points a piece. A Pittsburgh win today will not only give the Pens an obvious two point advantage over Philly (or one, given an overtime/shootout result), but it also gives a slight advantage in terms of games remaining on the schedule. Consider it a four point win, if you will.
Marty "not Brodeur" Biron will likely get the start in net today for the Flyers. He's coming off a rough 6-4 outing against the Sabres Friday night that still registered a win, his 23rd of the season. The former first round pick is 4-3 for the month of March, a record that doesn't include his short outing against the Flames on March 5 in which he provided mop-up duty for the shaky Antero Nittymaki.
Jeff Carter remains a viable threat on offense, currently ranked third in the league's top goal scorers with 39. Hopefully the return of Sergei Gonchar on the blue line will limit Mike Richards' short-handed chances, something that has bugged the Pens more times than they'd like this season.
Biron recently stated that he thinks the Flyers should be more concerned with Gonchar than Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
Expect Marc-Andre Fleury in net for the Pens. "Fury" registered his 30th of the year in Friday night's 4-1 win over the Kings.
The Penguins are 10-0-2 in their last 12, hoping to extend the streak with a big two-point win today. Despite staying in the hunt for a playoff berth, Philly has posted a streaky 5-5-0 record for the month of March.
Welcome to playoff hockey.