Crosby will be playing his 915th NHL game and could pass Lemieux when the Penguins visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Penguins and Panthers play each other for the first time since the Feb. 1 trade that brought forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann to Pittsburgh and forwards Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan to Florida. Casey DeSmith is expected to start for the Penguins, who recalled goalie Tristan Jarry from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis Wednesday with Matt Murray nursing an upper-body injury. The Penguins have lost four of six (2-4-0), including 4-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Panthers are coming off blowing a 2-0 third-period lead in a 3-2 loss at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
Players to watch
Penguins forward Jake Guentzel has 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in his past 14 games. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past four games.
They said it
"Obviously I know every player pretty well down there. Just have fun with it. I've never been on that side of the bench. Hopefully we can get the win." -- Penguins forward Nick Bjugstad "They're not happy about their last game, we're not happy. Hopefully that makes for an emotional game tonight." -- Panthers coach Bob Boughner
Malkin, who will miss his fourth consecutive game, accompanied the Penguins to Florida. … Bjugstad moves to the top line after centering the second line in his first three games with the Penguins. … Hawryluk is day to day.
Stat pack
Kessel needs two points for 800 in the NHL. … Letang's next goal will make him the Penguins' all-time leader among defensemen. He's tied with Paul Coffey with 108. … Luongo will play his 1,028th NHL game and move one behind Patrick Roy for second place on the all-time list for goalies. Martin Brodeur is first with 1,266.
