TIME: 01:00 P.M. EST
VENUE: St. Pete Times Forum
The Pittsburgh Penguins have ended a six-game losing streak. Now they get a chance to prevent the Tampa Bay Lightning from doing the same.
The Penguins have lost their last four matchups with the Lightning including the playoffs heading into Sundays contest at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Pittsburgh (22-17-4) ended its six-game slide with Fridays 4-1 victory at Florida. The skid was the clubs longest since an 0-5-2 stretch Jan. 26-Feb. 8, 2006.
The Penguins totaled six goals during the losing streak, capped by Wednesdays 1-0 loss at Washington.
“We talked about it this morning and the guys said it, We need 20 leaders,” coach Dan Bylsma said. “I think the guys did come together. I think we liked the way we played in Washington, we liked the way we play as a team. We like the way we responded and we wanted to keep going in that direction.”
While Pittsburgh was ebullient after the victory, Tampa Bays woes continued Friday in a 4-3 road loss to the Capitals. The Lightning (17-22-4) never recovered after yielding two power-play goals in the first period and fell to 0-5-1 in January.
“Were the ones that need some help, and its the opposite,” coach Guy Boucher said. “We get two penalties just for absolutely nothing, calls that are never called during the entire year.”
Tampa Bay won 4-1 at home over Pittsburgh on Nov. 17 behind two goals from Vincent Lecavalier. That marked the teams first meeting since the Lightning rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate the Penguins in last years playoffs.
Including the end of that series, Marc-Andre Fleury is 0-4-0 with a 3.59 goals-against average in his last four starts against Tampa Bay.
Fleury made 25 saves Friday to earn his first win since Dec. 27.
“Its a huge relief. It wasnt fun for anybody,” Fleury said. “It got frustrating, but everybody stuck together. Our last game in Washington was a good game for a lot of guys, but we couldnt win that one. (Friday) again we played well, offensively, defensively, and it paid off.”
James Neal was held without a point during the losing streak, but he had one goal and one assist against the Panthers.
“Its obviously a good feeling to get out of a slump like that,” Neal said. “Its been a long time since a win.”
Its a feeling the Lightning havent experienced since a 5-2 victory over Carolina on Dec. 31. Steven Stamkos took little solace in scoring his NHL-leading 30th goal Friday.
“Its been too many of those this year where we deserve to win and we dont and some where we play like crap and we do lose so its frustrating,” Stamkos said.
The Lightning, who have allowed a league-high 3.42 goals per game, have not dropped seven straight since going 0-7-2 to close the 2008-09 season.
“Weve got injuries over injuries and adversity after adversity, and the breaks are just not coming at all,” Boucher said.
Stamkos power-play goal Friday was Tampa Bays lone score with the man advantage in 19 chances during its skid.
Pittsburgh is 0 for 24 on the power play in its last four games against Tampa Bay and 1 for 47 in the last nine meetings, including the playoffs.
Much of those struggles came against Dwayne Roloson, who had a 1.77 GAA against the Penguins in the playoffs. Roloson, however, hasnt won since beating Pittsburgh in November, going 0-6-1 with a 4.39 GAA in eight starts since.