Tampa Bay (17-24-10) at Pittsburgh (24-23-5), 7:30 pm EST
PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- With each passing game, the chances of
the Pittsburgh Penguins missing the playoffs continue to grow.
The Penguins will attempt to snap a three-game losing streak
Wednesday, when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Despite sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference,
Pittsburgh is still considered a lock for the postseason by many
hockey experts with two of the NHL's biggest stars on the
roster.
Despite All-Stars Evgeni Malkin and captain Sidney Crosby
combining for 42 goals and 144 points this season, the Penguins
have won consecutive games once since mid-November.
As a result - with 30 games left in the season, Pittsburgh is
three points out of the final playoff spot in the East.
Malkin and rookie Luca Caputi scored in Tuesday's 4-2 setback to
the Montreal Canadiens. It was the 20-year-old Caputi's first
career goal.
The Lightning have also lost three games in a row after dropping
a 3-1 decision to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Captain Vincent Lecavalier netted the lone goal in that one for
Tampa Bay, which defeated the Penguins, 2-0, on December 23 in
their last meeting.