Pens look to end losing streak Saturday night

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palat during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, March 22, 2014, at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Michael Miller

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palat during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, March 22, 2014, at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

After a rough disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, the 5X time Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins’ three-game road trip will continue with a stop in Tampa Bay to face off against the Lightning 7 p.m. Saturday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay.

The Lightning are just finishing up a three-game homestand that began with a 3-2 shootout loss against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, Feb. 5; a 1-0 overtime loss against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Feb. 7; and now ends with a match-up against the Pittsburgh Penguins before Tampa Bay travels to Florida with a match-up with the Florida Panthers on Sunday, Feb.9.

The Lightning are 39-11-4 and are in first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Penguins are continuing their three-game road trip that began with a 4-3 overtime loss against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night; continues with the Tampa Bay lighting Saturday night; and ends with a Keystone state showdown with the Philadelphia Flyers Monday night.

The Penguins are 28-19-7 and are in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division and are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets in points (63), are three points behind the Washington Capitals for second place, and are five points behind the Metropolitan Division leaders the New York Islanders.

When Saturday night comes around, the Penguins and Lightning will meet for the third and final time this season. These two teams last played in Pittsburgh on Jan. 30 when the Penguins won that game by the score of 4-2 in which Evgeni Malkin got into a fight and had to leave the game and did not return.

Even though the injured players for the Penguins made the road trip but haven’t yet played, it should be an entertaining game on Saturday night in Tampa Bay as the Penguins look to end this three-game losing streak and get back into the win column.