Sidney Crosby won't be on the ice Wednesday night at the Verizon Center, but that doesn't figure to render the third meeting of the season between his Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals any less intense.
Crosby is one of a flock of injured Penguins who sat out Tuesday's 5-1 home loss to Ottawa and don't figure to be in uniform when the Caps return from a two-game California trip that saw them lose by matching 5-2 scores in San Jose on Saturday and Los Angeles on Monday.
Viewers in the United States can see the game on the NBC Sports Network, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, while Canadian fans can tune in on TSN2.
In the only other game of the night, the Edmonton Oilers are back home after a seven-game road trip necessitated by the World Junior Championship to host the New Jersey Devils. The Oilers have had a chance to get some rest -- they've been off since a 4-1 loss at Dallas on Saturday -- while the Devils will be playing their second game in as many nights after losing 6-3 in Calgary on Tuesday. The game starts at 9 p.m. ET and can be seen in Canada on TSN.