Penguins will be challenged to maximize points in trio of upcoming home games

The Penguins just got done with a tough two-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes. Now they’ve got to turn around and host a three-game homestand which isn’t exactly going to be a walk in the park either.

Taking home three of a possible four points in Tampa and Raleigh felt like an accomplishment, even if giving away that fourth point in overtime against the Canes was the result of blowing a 2-0 lead.

Despite the quality of competition they face over their next three games, the Penguins (77 points) shouldn’t be happy with anything less than four points — maybe even five — out of a possible six as they try to track down the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.

And it sure would be nice if two of those points come against the Hurricanes in Round 3 of their regular season series. Not only because Carolina currently leads the Metro with 83 points but also because the Canes have won both of their contests against the Pens by one goal.

Fans don’t want to see the Penguins entering the postseason thinking that any specific team has some sort of a hex over them before they potentially start a best-of-seven series.

So, here’s a look at who the Penguins will be facing over the next three outings and what exactly to expect from their opponents.

• Florida Panthers (Tuesday, 7 p.m.): Florida leads the Atlantic division with 81 points, one in front of second place Tampa Bay. The Panthers just pounced on the Buffalo Sabres Monday night, 6-1. That was Florida’s third straight win by a combined score of 15-3.

Granted, those three games were against Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo, three of the four worst teams in the Atlantic. But Andrew Brunette’s team did what it needed to do.

Ex-Penguin Patric Hornqvist got one of the goals for the Cats. It was his 12th tally of the year.

Passing simply on another level rn pic.twitter.com/zMUWOUWZkd

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 8, 2022

The Panthers are tops in the NHL with 4.13 goals per game. They got there by firing a league-leading 36.9 shots per contest. Jonathan Huberdeau is third in the league in scoring at 77 points, and he’s tops in the NHL with 59 assists. Aleksander Barkov leads the team with 26 goals.

The Penguins lost a 5-4 overtime game in Florida back in October. They won a 3-2 shootout against them at home in November.

• Las Vegas Golden Knights (Friday, 7 p.m.): The Golden Knights have steadied themselves in March. Vegas has won three of four contests this month after losing five of six to close out February.

The improved play has come with the return of Robin Lehner. The goalie had missed five games due to injury. In his three starts since coming back, Lehner is 2-1 with a 2.03 goals against average and a save percentage of .935.

Vegas has 68 points, good for third in the Pacific Division. The Knights have a good chance to scoop up four more before coming to Pittsburgh, as they visit Philadelphia (last in the Metro) on Tuesday and are in Buffalo (sixth in the Atlantic) on Thursday.

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• Carolina Hurricanes (Sunday, 1 p.m.): Carolina has won seven of nine, including those two victories over the Penguins. The bulk of the wins have been tight and low scoring.

Five of those victories have been by one goal. Three of the games have gone to overtime. Five of their last six games have stayed under six total goals between the two teams.

Frederik Andersen has been the goalie of record five times in those nine contests, winning four. Antti Raanta has three wins and one overtime loss.

Ex-Penguin Jordan Staal has three goals in the two games against the Penguins. He and the Canes will face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday before visiting Pittsburgh.

Brian Metzer of the Penguin Radio Network joins me for this week’s hockey podcast. We look at all three looming opponents for the Pens on this homestand. We discuss trade deadline possibilities, five-on-five play and some prospects in the minor leagues.