Senators at Penguins preview

SENATORS (23-31-12) at PENGUINS (37-21-6)
7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, TSN5, RDS2, NHL.TV

The Penguins have been outscored 24-8 during a season-long six-game losing streak since defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Feb. 18. They moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division with that win, but have since fallen to third, three points behind the second-place Philadelphia Flyers and six behind the first-place Washington Capitals.
Pittsburgh last lost at least seven straight in regulation during a 10-game streak from Jan. 6-23, 2006.
The Senators have won their past two games following a four-game winless streak (0-3-1). A third straight win would match their longest streak this season, when they won three in a row from Nov. 19-22.

Players to watch

Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot has three points (one goal, two assists) during a three-game point streak.
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby needs two assists to reach 800 in the NHL. He has one goal in his past six games after having 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in his first 13 games back from core muscle surgery.

They said it

"[The Penguins] need these two points, and I'm sure they don't care who they're playing against." -- Senators coach D.J. Smith
"These guys care an awful lot about what's going on. … We just have to make sure we keep the game simple." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

Senators projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk -- Artem Anisimov -- Bobby Ryan
Anthony Duclair -- Chris Tierney -- Connor Brown
Nicholas Paul -- Colin White -- Jayce Hawryluk
Mikkel Boedker -- Matthew Peca -- Rudolfs Balcers
Thomas Chabot -- Ron Hainsey
Mike Reilly -- Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Englund -- Christian Jaros
Craig Anderson
Filip Gustavsson
Scratched: Marcus Hogberg, Scott Sabourin
Injured: Mark Borowiecki (high ankle sprain), Anders Nilsson (concussion)

Penguins projected lineup

Jason Zucker -- Sidney Crosby -- Conor Sheary
Patrick Marleau -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Evan Rodrigues -- Jared McCann -- Patric Hornqvist
Anthony Angello -- Teddy Blueger -- Sam Lafferty
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- John Marino
Jack Johnson -- Justin Schultz
Matt Murray
Tristan Jarry
Scratched: Chad Ruhwedel, Juuso Riikola, Anthony Angello
Injured: Nick Bjugstad (core muscle surgery), Jake Guentzel (shoulder surgery), Zach Aston-Reese (lower body), Dominik Simon (upper body), Brandon Tanev (illness)

Status report

Neither team held a morning skate. … White (upper body) and Duclair (right ankle) could return after each forward missed the past three games. … Hogberg, a goalie, stepped away from the Senators for personal reasons Monday and Gustavsson was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League. … Dumoulin (ankle surgery) and Marino (facial surgery) each will return. ... Angello, recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis will take Tanev's place on the third line.

Stat pack

The Senators are 6-18-6 on the road this season. They are 0-3-2 in their past five road games since a 5-2 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 28. … Marleau needs one goal to pass Mike Modano (561) for sole possession of 25th on the NHL all-time goals list.