Three things to watch: Canes-Pens | Raleigh News & Observer

Three things to watch Tuesday in the Canes-Penguins game:

Shot totals

The Canes are among the NHL leaders in limting shots against (27.9) but that didn’t stop the Penguins in their Jan. 20 game at PNC Arena. Pittsburgh had 41, scoring seven times and all but toying with the shell-shocked Canes in a 7-1 victory.

In the Dec. 28 game in Pittsburgh, the Canes outshot the Pens 46-26 — Sebastian Aho had seven shots — and the Pens were fortunate to escape with a 3-2 win. The Canes need a similar effort, keeping a lot of the play in the Pittsburgh zone, to win Tuesday.

Rask’s playing time

For Victor Rask, the Toronto game Sunday was his 13th straight without a point, continuing a puzzling drought for the center. He began the game on a line with Jeff Skinner and Phil Di Giuseppe, but was quickly moved and centered Brock McGinn and Lee Stempniak.

Rask had 12:03 of playing time, his lowest total of the season, had one shot and won five of 11 faceoffs. In an interview before the Toronto game, Rask said he didn’t know why his production had slowed so badly and said he needed to “find his game.” He’s still searching.

Strong finishers

One thing about the Pens: they don’t blow third-period leads. Pittsburgh has led 24 times after the second period this season and is 24-0-0 in those games.

The Pens have outscored teams 77-48 in the third period, making it all but impossible to catch up. They’re strong closers and also have beaten the Canes five straight times.

The last time in PNC Arena, the Pens led 5-0 after two periods -- game over.