The Penguins woes continue as they lost to the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 Saturday afternoon at the Pepsi Center. Today’s loss is the Penguins seventh in eight games and the team fell to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Florida beat the Atlanta Thrashers 8-4 this afternoon to move two points ahead of the Penguins for 9th place in the East.
Head coach Michel Therrien tried to jump start the Penguins offensive attack today, reuniting Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the same line. The move paid off as Crosby and Malkin each had a goals and assist but the Penguins struggled in their defensive zone again and Dany Sabourin didn’t do enough to give the Penguins a chance to win.
Sabourin who made 21 saves on 25 shots, was pulled after the second period. Sabourin has lost his past six games. Jordan Staal added a shorthanded goal in the third period. Staal has scored goals in consecutive games. Pittsburgh (20-19-4, 44 points) is 6-14 in their last 20 games. The Penguins are scheduled to have a day off tomorrow.
More to come
1:39 p.m. Gameday LineupNews
Penguins official lineup
Malkin – Crosby – Sykora
Cooke - Staal РKennedy
Minard – Talbot – Wallace
Satan - Jeffrey РGodard
D-Pairs
Orpik – Whitney
Scuderi – Letang
Gill – Boucher
LineupNews: Dany Sabourin will start in goal. As I mentioned yesterday, Hal Gill will return to the lineup today. Boucher and Eaton alternated with Gill in practice but my source tells me Eaton will be scratched based on what he was told. Alex Goligoski will be scratched for the third time in four games.
Pascal Dupuis will likely return on Tuesday. Dupuis began skating yesterday and has a foot injury.
Chris Minard could get some shifts on the top two lines.

photo courtesy of Dan4th