Penguins vs. Panthers Scouting Report

Friday, 11.18.2011 / 6:00 PM / Features

By Sam Kasan

Pittsburgh Penguins
Overall: 11-5-3-25
Home: 6-1-1-13
Road: 5-4-2-12

WHEN: Nov. 19, 2011 - 7:30 pm | WHERE: BankAtlantic Center
WATCH: ROOT SPORTS | LISTEN: Penguins 24/7 Radio, 105.9 FM

Florida Panthers
Overall: 9-6-3-21
Home: 2-2-3-7
Road: 7-4-0-14

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Florida Panthers

SCOUTING REPORT

GAME NOTES

PLAYER PROFILES

Kris Versteeg
	LW - #32 9 Goals 11 Assists 20 Points
• Acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for conditional 2nd-round pick in either 2012 or 2013 Draft and 3rd-round pick in 2012 on July 1, 2011. • Leads team in goals (9), points (20), power-play goals (4) and shots (51). • Scored 20-plus goals in first 3 NHL seasons. • Member of Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup-winning team in 2010.

STEPHEN WEISS
	LW - #9 6 Goals 9 Assists 51 Points
• Played entire career with Florida after team drafted him fourth overall in 2001 NHL Draft. • Alternate captain is second in team history in games played (574). He could be named team captain at some point this season. • Tied a career high with a plus-5 rating while chipping in one goal and two assists Nov. 15 at Dallas.

Ed Jovanovksi
	LW - #55 2 Goals 3 Assists 5 Points
• Originally drafted by Florida with the first-overall selection in the 1994 Draft. Signed with former club as free agent July 1, 2011. • Veteran blueliner is in his 16th NHL season, having played over 1,000 games with Florida, Vancouver and Phoenix. • Strong two-way defenseman that plays with a physical edge.

The Florida Panthers have been one of the early surprises in the NHL this season. GM Dale Tallon retooled the club in the offseason, and is seeing immediate dividends.

The Florida Panthers find themselves in unchartered territory heading into their showdown with the Penguins, tied atop the Southeast Division standings. The Panthers’ have played extremely well lately, losing only twice in regulation in their last nine games (4-2-3), and have surged to the top of the standings.

With a 9-6-3 record to open the year, Florida’s 21 points has them even with Washington for the division lead. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Panthers were in first place in their division this late in the season was through 68 games on March 10, 2000 with a 36-22-5-5 mark.

Head coach Kevin Dineen’s Panthers have been a force away from home with an NHL-best seven road wins (7-4). Before dropping a 4-1 game at St. Louis Thusday, they won four straight game road games. However, at BankAtlantic Center they have struggled with a 2-2-3 mark.

Most of Florida’s success can be attributed to the team’s top line of Tomas Fleischmann-Stephen Weiss-Kris Versteeg. The trio has accounted for 22 of the team’s 52 goals this season and 38 percent of the total offensive output. Last Tuesday at Dallas the trio totaled eight points (3G-5A) and a plus-10 rating, including a career-high plus-5 for Weiss, in a 6-0 rout of the Stars.

The Panthers have also gotten great production from their blueliners. Florida defensemen have contributed 52 points (11G-41A) this season, leading the NHL in points by D-men. Jason Garrison leads the NHL in goals by defensemen with seven, while Brian Campbell’s 16 assists are tied for second-most in the league.

Netminder Jose Theodore has carried the load for the Panthers. He’s posted a 6-4-2 record and a healthy .920 save percentage so far this year after signing with the club in the summer.

But the Pens may see goaltender Scott Clemmensen, who played his first game of the season Tuesday in Dallas after missing 13 contests with a knee injury. He stopped all 25 shots he faced to record his seventh career shutout in that game.

The Penguins have a 5-game winning streak against Florida, tied for the longest winning streak against the Panthers (also achieved Feb. 1, 1994-Feb. 7, 1995). The current streak began with a 3-2 win at BankAtlantic Center Nov. 22, 2010.

In their 5-game winning streak over Florida, the Penguins have outscored the Panthers, 17-9, and haven't allowed more than 2 goals in a single contest despite being outshot, 168-149.

In their last 6 games in Florida, the Penguins are averaging 40.8 shots per game. The Pens have gone 4-2 in that stretch at BankAtlantic Center.

Steve MacIntyre, Matt Bradley and Mikael Samuelsson have all played for the Penguins and Panthers.

The Penguins conclude the 6th annual Dads' Trip in Florida. They are hoping to finish 1-1 after dropping the first game in Tampa Bay, 4-1. Pittsburgh is 7-4 all-time in Dads' Trip games.

Jordan Staal carries a 3-game scoring streak into the game (3G-2A). In his last 12 games, dating back to Oct. 15 vs. Buffalo, Staal has scored 8 goals and 11 points.

INJURY REPORT

2010-11 STAT CHART

F Sidney Crosby, concussion
D Ben Lovejoy, broken wrist
D Zbynek Michalek, broken finger
D Brian Strait, hyper-extended elbow


G	Neal (12)	Versteeg (9)
A	Letang (14)	Campbell (16)
PTS	Neal (20)	Versteeg (20)
PIM	Asham (19)	Gudbranson (26)
+/-	Dupuis (6)	Fleischmann (11)
PP	Neal (6)	Versteeg (4)
SH	Four tied with (1)	Bergenheim (1)
W/L	Fleury (10-3-1)	Theodore (6-4-2)
GAA	Fleury (2.04)	Theodore (2.49)
SVP	Fleury (.924)	Theodore (.920)

F Marcel Goc, upper-body
F Mikael Samuelsson (lower body)
F Scott Upshall (hip)
F Jack Skille (groin)