The 31-year-old defenseman was sidelined with a lower-body injury for Pittsburgh's 4-3 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. He sustained the injury while colliding with Boston Bruins forward Joakim Nordstrom on Friday. The Penguins have won two straight and are 5-1-1 in their past seven games. The Ducks have won three straight games and are 8-1-0 in their past nine. They have at least four goals in four of their past six games. Anaheim forward Daniel Sprong will face his former team for the first time since being acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh for defenseman Marcus Pettersson on Dec. 3. He's scored three goals in five games with the Ducks, including two in a 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Players to watch
Ducks goalie John Gibson is 4-1-0 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in his past five games (four starts). Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has three assists in his past five games after having 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in his previous 11.
They said it
"I scored my first NHL goal here. It's the team that drafted me. ... It's a different chapter now. I'm excited." -- Ducks forward Daniel Sprong "We'll see how it goes. We'll keep working on strengthening my leg to make sure I'm healthy." -- Penguins defenseman Kris Letang
Rowney, who will face Pittsburgh for the first time after playing his first two NHL seasons with the Penguins, is expected to be the fourth-line center. ... Hornqvist wore a no-contact jersey during Pittsburgh's morning skate Monday. He has missed five games with an upper-body injury.
Stat pack
Lindholm will play his 400th NHL game. ... Murray needs one shutout to pass Johan Hedberg into fourth on the Penguins all-time shutouts list with eight.
