Zatkoff starts for Penguins against Lightning

Saturday, 03.22.2014 / 12:04 PM

By Wes Crosby - NHL.com Correspondent / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

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PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup should not look substantially different when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Goalie Jeff Zatkoff will start for Pittsburgh in the first of back-to-back games this weekend. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will most likely start for the Penguins against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday at Consol Energy Center.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma did not provide any other lineup updates.

Zatkoff will get his second start in Pittsburgh's past three games after starting two of its previous 13. He has gone 11-2-1 since beginning the season with two losses and has a 2.52 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Despite goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who has not played this season because of a blood clot, continuing to progress while participating in practices, Bylsma said the Penguins do not have a three-goalie system. He said Vokoun playing prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is a "mere possibility."

"I think with the ramp up in practice, the number of shots he's taken, he has dealt with some general soreness to that level, but he's not to the point where he's ready to play a game yet," Bylsma said. "We're working toward Marc-Andre getting 65 games or so and Jeff also has carried a lot more of the load in this heavy month of March than he has earlier on in the year."

Forwards Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz did not practice Friday because of "maintenance days." Bylsma did not announce if they will play against Tampa Bay.

"We'll see," Bylsma said.

Here are the expected lineups for the Penguins and Lightning:

PENGUINS

Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Lee Stempniak

Jussi Jokinen – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal

Tanner Glass – Marcel Goc – Brian Gibbons

Taylor Pyatt – Brandon Sutter – Craig Adams

Brooks Orpik – Matt Niskanen

Olli Maatta – Rob Scuderi

Robert Bortuzzo – Simon Despres

Jeff Zatkoff

Marc-Andre Fleury