Game 39: Penguins faceoff against the Panthers at 1:00 p.m./ Post-Game Speculation

Updated: 10:52 p.m: Frustrations in the locker room and in the front office continue as the Penguins were embarrassed at home today losing 6-1 to the Florida Panthers. Michel Therrien’s job is safe for now. Let’s get that out of the way off the bat. If the Penguins were to continue to plummet in the standings then as always the coach could take the fall but to this point ownership has no interest in making a switch.

Ray Shero has been very active in the past 72 hours but don’t expect to wake up in the morning and see the Penguins make a major trade or see Jordan Staal get traded. Those kind of trades don’t happen overnight and as of this morning the Penguins were not involved in any serious talks that would land the Penguins a top 6 winger. What I mean by a top winger is a Marty St. Louis type of winger.

What the Penguins front office is trying to do is change the culture of the team. Callups and dressing seven defensemen will no longer get it done.

The Penguins are trying to acquire a forward or two that could provide some short term help and give Michel Therrien the option of sitting a player like Miroslav Satan.

Penguins are interested in Maple Leafs forward Nik Antropov but talks are not in the serious stages. Toronto doesn’t want any contracts beyond this year going their way and the Leafs asking price needs to come down a bit according to sources. A source told me they were asking for Alex Grant, 2nd round pick/Paul Bissonnette.

Penguins have talked to the Oilers and Blues about unloading Satan. Penguins looking at two forwards from Edmonton. One on the NHL roster, another in Springfield.

More to come within the hour (inside access only) and a update on teams the Penguins have been talking too. One Western Conference team showing strong interest in Alex Goligoski.

Dupuis – Crosby – Sykora

Fedotenko – Malkin – Satan

Cooke – Staal –Kennedy

Jeffrey – Talbot – Wallace/Godard

Marc Andre Fleury is expected to start.

Lineup news: Tyler Kennedy practiced for the third consecutive day on Friday and will likely play against the Panthers. Kennedy skated with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy in practice. Kennedy will also see time on the power play.  Eric Godard will be available to dress. Godard will be a coaches decision.

Defenseman Philippe Boucher missed practiced on Friday and will not be in the lineup for the second consecutive game. The Penguins are not expected to dress seven defensemen and based on the rotation in practice it appears Mark Eaton will be a healthy scratch. Michel Therrien was non committal regarding which defenseman would sit following practice. A source tells me Alex Goligoski will be in the lineup.

Penguins struggling at home: The Penguins are 3-6-1 in their past 10 at home and have lost four straight.