Now here is a shootout to avoid

[Mad City Mike]

Let's just hope the Pens' game against Florida doesn't go to a shootout. If it does, I hope you bring your No-Doz. You see, the Panthers are as adept at these things as the Pens are.

Shootouts have been a particular nightmare: Florida shooters are just 3-for-26 (11.5 percent, 26th among 29 teams that have been involved in shootouts), while opponents have scored on 11 of 26 shots (42.3 percent, 22nd).

In my shootout success rate stats, which give you a point for every goal and save before you divide by the total shots for and against, the Panthers are at 34.6 percent (26th), while the Pens are 32.4 percent (27th). Boy, that's one shootput where you might actually want to leave early. For perspective, the top-ranked team is Ottawa at 80 percent, though they've only had one shootout. Next is Atlanta at 71.9 percent. Worst is Washington at 20 percent.