Pens vs Lightning gameday 78. Possible preview of round 1 match-up.

Must win. There haven't been too many "must win" games for the Penguins so far this year but Tuesday's match up against the Flyers was definitely one, and now this potential first round opponent they face tonight is another "must win" situation. Tampa sits 5 points outside of 4th place in the East, the Penguins are in that 4th place and trying to hold on to home ice advantage, Stamkos and St. Louis have other ideas though. It's too bad those ideas won't see fruition if the Pen's have anything to say about it.

Losing to the Flyers on Tuesday was a bitter end cap to a less than fruitful season series against them at Consol, and in general. Due to the circumstances this team has to buckle up and go full throttle playoff mode for this game and the last remaining games to get ready for the first round intensity that's coming. We got a taste of it against Philly earlier, you'll get a good taste of it today against Tampa.

Penalty Killing is another factor that must absolutely be up to the task this evening. In the past six games the Pens have played, they've allowed four power play goals, with a fifth goal scored right after a penalty expired against Philly. All of them were given up after Matt Cooke's ejection for an elbow during the Rangers game on March 20th, Cooke is suspended until the 2nd round of the playoffs. His absence on the PK lines is having an obvious effect on the way it does work.

Defense will need to have their head on swivels and wheels ready to back track and stay tight to the opponent, Steven Stamkos and Martin St.Louis will be out on the ice ready to do damage, both of them have scored 80+ points on the season so far. However, in the previous two appearances for these two teams the Penguins have outscored the Lightning 13-2 and outscored them 8-2 in the first period of play through all the games this season. This game is the fourth and final match up between these two teams for the regular season, but may be a precursor to the first round of the playoffs barring disaster.

Sidney Crosby was on the ice this morning with the guys in Florida doing skating drills, it's good to see his name show up on the line lists from practice even if it is only drills. Mark Letestu will continue to work with the first line, he won 12 of 17 faceoffs on Tuesday night. Your line ups for tonight look something like this:

James Neal - Mark Letestu - Alex Kovalev

Chris Kunitz - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Chris Conner - Max Talbot - Pascal Dupuis
Mike Rupp - Craig Adams - Mike Comrie

                   Kris Letang - Brooks Orpik

           Zbynek Michalek - Paul Martin
               Matt Niskanen - Ben Lovejoy

Between the pipes for the Penguins? Marc Andre Fleury, in his fifth straight start will face off against Roloson.

Pick up these 2 points and move out ahead of the Lightning to keep fourth place, may not be able to get to first but can damn sure keep home ice.

Do it Pens.