Pens Pre-Game v Florida-Game 67

The Penguins play their third game in a four game homestand tonight against the Florida Panthers.  They will be seeking their 8th straight win.  How well are they playing right now you ask?   A win tonight would mark the first time in franchise history that they would have won 8 straight twice in the same season, and the first time that they would have won 20 out of any 25 game stretch in any season.  They are also only 6 points behind the league leading New York Rangers.  Some other notes include:

The Penguins PK is running at 89.2%, which would be tied with the highest season PK percent in the NHL since 1997.  The Penguins have a number of players who are in the midst of droughts on the power play with Steve Sullivan only have one power play goal in his past 30 games, Kunitz having only one power play goal in his past 28 games, and Neal with only one in his past 22 games.  Tyler Kennedy has only one goal of any sort in his past 18 games.  Geno did not get a point in the game Wednesday night, and has not been held pointless in two straight home games since 11/27 and 12/2 of last season.  Jordan Staal is +10 in his past 10 games, and a point tonight would give him a career high point scoring streak of 7 games.  Neither Matt Niskanen or Paul Martin have scored a goal for the Penguins on home ice.  Marc Andre Fleury has won his past 6 starts, is 16-2-1 in his past 19 games with a 2.22 GAA and .923 save percentage.  Fleury has 22 career shutouts, and 74 career one goal games.   Finally, Simon Despres is likely to replace Paul Martin due to illness tonight, while Brian Strait is replacing Deryk Engelland, Ben Lovejoy is in for Kris Letang. The blue line is looking like the black and blue line right now.