Penguins/Sharks PREVIEW

The Penguins close out the regular season with two home games this weekend, starting tonight at 7:05 pm EDT against the Worcester Sharks.

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Expected Starting Goalies

Jeff Zatkoff (WBS): 26-19-0, 1.91 GAA, .921 SV%, 5 SO

Harri Sateri (WOR): 14-21-3, 2.89 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO

Breaking Down the Matchup

PENGUINS (5th - EAST): 3rd Place East Division, 42-28-2-2 = 88 points

Worcester (13th - EAST): 4th Place Atlantic Division, 30-34-4-6 = 70 points

For the last five games of the regular season I'll put up the conference standings with the teams fighting for a playoff spot:

y - 1. Providence - 99 points, 3 games remaining

y - 2. Springfield - 97 points, 2 games remaining

x - 3. Syracuse - 93 points, 3 games remaining

x - 4. Binghamton - 92 points, 3 games remaining

5. PENGUINS - 88 points, 2 games remaining

6. Portland - 83 points, 3 games remaining

7. Norfolk - 79 points, 3 games remaining

8. Connecticut - 79 points 2 games remaining

9. Manchester - 77 points, 3 games remaining

10. Hershey - 77 points, 3 games remaining

11. Bridgeport - 74 points, 3 games remaining

12. Albany - 71 points, 3 games remaining

Leading Scorers

PENGUINS: Chad Kolarik (31G, 36A), Trevor Smith (23G, 29A), Riley Holzapfel (19G, 30A)

Worcester: Bracken Kearns (21G, 25A), Daniil Tarasov (13G, 13G), John McCarthy (9G, 16A)

The 'Home' Stretch

The Penguins can wrap up 5th in the East with a point gained tonight, or a point lost by 6th place Portland. With two games left, the Pens look to fine tune to their game and continue their hot play into the playoffs. They look for their 8th straight win tonight. 

Head coach John Hynes said Derek Nesbitt will play one game this weekend instead of both to avoid going under veteran status for next season. Hynes also said he isn't planning on playing the Black Aces or the new guys on ATO's such as forwards Matia Marcantuoni and Anton Zlobin.

Worcester has been eliminated from playoff contention and can play the role of spoiler this weekend. They gave the Pens trouble in their recent meeting up in Worcester when they beat the Penguins 5-1.

Injured list: Tom Kuhnhackl (shoulder surgery - out for season), Phil Dupuis (out for season) 

Healthy Scratches: Scott Darling, Cody Wild, Christian Minella, Chris Barton, Chris Collins, Matia Marcantuoni, Anton Zlobin and Harrison Ruopp

Expected lineup:

Holzapfel - Smith - Kolarik

Nesbitt - Gibbons - Megna 

Collins - Peters - Thompson

Farnham - Sill -Uher

Reese - Dumoulin

Mormina -Samuelsson

Grant - McNeill