With barely any time to rest their legs or catch their breath during a jampacked and road-heavy schedule throughout the month of January, the Panthers saw their five-game point streak come to an end with a 6-2 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Despite the Panthers leading 33-27 in scoring chances, the Rangers managed to capitalize on their limited chances during the contest. For the Panthers, Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov both found the back of the net, while Alex Lyon stopped 20 shots between the pipes.
Producing at better than a point-per-game pace this season, Barkov, who is riding a season-long, eight-game point streak, has registered 13 goals and 28 assists in 39 games in 2022-23.
In the opposing crease, Igor Shesterkin stopped 33 of 35 shots for New York.
"Just missed some execution on the finish," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "They made some saves, but I think some of our best offense we never actually got to the net. … I think they worked their [butts] off, but I don't think the hands were easy to find tonight."
With only three games left until the All-Star break, Maurice expects renewed vigor tonight.
"I think tomorrow we come out with even more energy," Maurice said confidently. "I think tomorrow's the light at the end of the tunnel. After that we've got two days off, and that hasn't happened since the start of the month. Then after tomorrow we've got 20 home games."
After suffering a lower-body injury during the first period against the Rangers, Sam Bennett, who came back to play a bit in the second period, isn't expected to suit up for the Panthers in Pittsburgh.
"It just started to tighten again," Maurice said of Bennett's injury. "We can't have this turn into something longer. If he's got to miss the next three, so be it. But then we've got a seven-day block where we can really capture some healing on it. I don't think there's a chance he's playing tomorrow, but maybe he might play on the weekend."
Dropping 10 of their last 14 games, the Penguins are looking to rebound from a 2-1 overtime loss at New Jersey on Sunday. Sidney Crosby scored the lone goal against the Devils, who captured the extra point thanks to a power-play goal from Dougie Hamilton in the extra frame.
Over their last 14 games, the Penguins have been outscored 47-37.
"I think we played well enough to win," Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought we played a solid hockey game. We had our chances. The puck didn't go in the net for us tonight. We had some really good looks. I thought for sure, we played well enough to win."
Showing no signs of slowing down at 35 years old, Crosby leads the Penguins in goals (22), assists (32) and points (54). Not too far behind, Evgeni Malkin has logged 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists), while Jake Guentzel resides in third place with 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists).
Starting each of the last two games, Tristan Jarry has handled the bulk of the workload in net for the Penguins this season. In 27 appearances, he's gone 16-5-5 with a .921 save percentage.
In their first of three meetings this season, the Panthers surrendered a pair of power-play goals and one shorthanded goal during a 4-2 loss to the Penguins back on Dec. 15 at FLA Live Arena.
Over their past four head-to-head matchups, the Panthers own a 2-1-1 record against Pittsburgh.
