Penguins Meet Carolina In Saturday Night Showdown

Last summer, when the NHL schedule was released, I bet the Penguins didn't circle an April 4, 2009 date with the Carolina Hurricanes.

I know I didn't.

But tonight at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Penguins have a showdown with Carolina that is has recently developed into one of the more anticipated games on the Penguins' schedule.

As we know, the Penguins have been sizzling, at 15-2-3 in their last 20.

There's only been one other team playing as well as they have the last 6 weeks or so.

And that's Carolina.

The Hurricanes finished March with a 10-1-2 record, just like the Penguins.

They have won 7 in a row overall and 10 straight at home, outscoring teams 39-15 at the RBC Center during the latter stretch.

Carolina has been getting great goaltending from Cam Ward lately, and are a diverse group up front.

They are led by the usual suspects most Penguin fans are probably familiar with -- Ray Whitney, Jordan Staal's brother Eric, and Rod Brind 'Amour.

They also have gotten good contributions from other forwards, too, including centers Matt Cullen and Chad LaRose, with 22 and 18 goals respectively, and new addition (and former Hurricane) Eric Cole.

Maybe Cole will get some free candy tonight because, after all, the Penguins are no slouches coming into this game. They have been getting good contributions from just as many players and -- maybe you've heard -- have a few game breakers named Crosby and Malkin that the Hurricanes don't have.

If the Penguins win tonight, they'll hurdle Carolina -- currently 1 point above them in the Eastern Conference standings -- and also move ahead of Philadelphia on the strength of one more win. The Flyers won last night, 8-5, over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Philadelphia has one game in hand on Pittsburgh, while the Penguins have one game in hand on Carolina.

Speaking of the standings, the Atlanta Thrashers did the Penguins a favor last night, dispatching the Florida Panthers, 3-1, reducing the Penguins magic number to clinch a playoff berth to 4 points.

That will potentialy be on the line when the Penguins will play the Panthers tomorrow afternoon at 5 PM, depending on what happens in tonight's showdown in Raleigh.

Recap tomorrow.

NOTES:

LW Ruslan Fedotenko, who missed the 3rd period of the Penguin's 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday with an apparent shoulder injury and sat out practice on Thursday, suited up yesterday and went through a workout with his teammates. He'll probably be sore for a few games, but proclaimed himself well and is probable for tonight.

The Penguins failed in their bid to land Denver University Pioneer center Tyler Bozak, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. They did, however, sign 2 other college players -- both from Northeastern University.

Goaltender Brad Theissen, signed a 2-year entry level contract. Theissen was 25-12-4 with a 2.12 GAA and .931 save percentage. He's a top-3 finalist for the Hobey Baker award for college hockey's best player.

Forward Joe Vitale, the Penguins' 7th round pick in 2005, also signed an entry level deal. Vitale had 7 goals and 20 assists for 27 points and was named the Hockey East's best defensive forward this year.

Theissen gives the team more goaltending depth, and while Vitale isn't going to be a top-six forward, he could give the team support on the 3rd and 4th lines, which is something the Penguins are going to need more of in the coming years -- particularly if the salary cap goes down and they have to fill those spots with some cheaper players.

Both Theissen and Vitale reported to Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the American Hockey League for the Baby Penguins' playoff run.

The Penguins still expect to sign Boston University Defenseman and draft pick Brian Strait after his season, and hope he is able to convince defense partner and free agent Matt Gilroy -- one of the more sought after college free agents who I mentioned in this space earlier this week -- to sign with Pittsburgh as well.