PITTSBURGH -- The projected lines and defense pairings for Wednesday night's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators at Consol Energy Center:
SENATORS
Colin Greening - Mika Zibanejad – Daniel Alfredsson
Erik Condra – Kyle Turris – Jakob Silfverberg
Jim O'Brien – Zack Smith – Chris Neil
Patrick Wiercioch – Stephane Da Costa – Kaspars Daugavins
Scratches: Milan Michalek
Injured: Peter Regin, Guillaume Latendresse, Jared Cowen
For the 12th time in 14 games this season, Anderson will start. It's the second time this season he's playing both ends of a back-to-back; he allowed three total goals in two wins Jan. 29-30 against Washington and Montreal. Coach Paul MacLean swapped Benoit in for Wiercioch as the only lineup change from Tuesday's 2-0 win against Buffalo. "We want to make sure we keep both of them playing," MacLean said.
Michalek was a last-minute scratch due to a lower-body injury.
PENGUINS
Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Pascal Dupuis
Zach Boychuk – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal
Matt Cooke – Brandon Sutter – Tyler Kennedy
Tanner Glass – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams
Robert Bortuzzo – Deryk Engelland
Injured: Matt Niskanen
Scratches: Eric Tangradi, Dustin Jeffrey, Dylan Reese
Letang has missed the past three games and Niskanen the most recent eight (both with lower-body injuries). Both skated with the team during practices the past two days, and each sounded encouraged he could play Wednesday night. Both are on injured reserve, however, so roster moves will be required if either or both is cleared. Letang sounded a bit more optimistic about his ability to play than Niskanen -- but neither is considered a sure thing, either way. Reese will play if both remain out; it's a toss-up as to whom the odd man out is if both suit up. The best guess is Bortuzzo.
Also of note is that Fleury will start for the fourth time in the past five games.
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