Penguins Face Tough Test Against Panthers in Florida Tonight

Sunrise, Florida — The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to embark on a critical three-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the Florida Panthers tonight at Amerant Bank Arena. The puck is scheduled to drop at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with broadcasts available on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the action on 105.9 The X or through the Penguins app.

As of now, the Penguins hold a record of 29 wins, 32 losses, and 10 overtime losses, while the Panthers boast a stronger record at 42-25-3. This game marks an essential juncture for the Penguins, who have gained points in 22 of their last 29 encounters with the Panthers, recording a 16-7-6 overall record since December 2014.

Recent performances give the Penguins some momentum; they have earned points in four of their last six games in Sunrise and have secured points in 11 of their last 15 visiting games (6-4-5). The game also marks the Penguins’ beginning of a stretch where they will play six of seven games on the road.

Team captain Sidney Crosby has been pivotal to Pittsburgh’s offense, notching two points in the team’s last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, extending his point streak to six games. Over this period, he leads all NHL players with his scoring tally. Crosby now stands just four points away from achieving his 20th point-per-game season, a milestone that would surpass Wayne Gretzky‘s record of 19 such seasons.

Crosby is also noted for his scoring versatility, having scored against 156 different goaltenders in his two-decade career, which includes Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, against whom he has tallied seven goals. Only two active goalies have conceded more goals to Crosby.

Another significant contributor, Evgeni Malkin, has emerged strongly since returning from a break, collecting 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in his last 15 games. Malkin’s recent performance has propelled him to the 13th spot for most assists for a single franchise in NHL history, tying him with Anze Kopitar.

On the blue line, Erik Karlsson continues to stand out, currently ranking first among Penguins defensemen and third overall with 49 points this season. He is approaching milestone achievements with just three points needed to tie Markus Naslund for the ninth-most points by a Swedish-born player. Karlsson is also close to achieving his 10th season with 40 or more assists.

Against the Panthers, both Crosby and Malkin rank among the top four active skaters in points scored, with Crosby tallying 65 points (29 goals, 36 assists) and Malkin at 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists). The Penguins have four of the top 11 point scorers against the Panthers among active players.

As the Penguins prepare for this critical game, they hold a collective record of 404-92-49 when both Crosby and Malkin record a point. This statistic mirrors the importance of their performance tonight.

The Panthers, fresh off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, are looking to rebound as they prepare to defend their home ice against the Penguins. Sergei Bobrovsky, who recorded a shutout, is nearing his 50th career shutout and might start against Pittsburgh tonight.

This matchup serves not only as another chapter in an ongoing rivalry but also as a strategic crossroads for both teams as they vie for playoff positioning in the rapidly approaching postseason.