Preview: Penguins at Senators

PENGUINS (26-9-5) at SENATORS (21-14-4)
7:30 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, ROOT, NHL.TV

Penguins team scope

Goalie Matt Murray will play for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second of back-to-back games. It's his first appearance since Dec. 28, when he left after the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes with a lower-body injury. The Penguins had their five-game winning streak ended with a 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. They will be trying to avoid losing back-to-back games in regulation for the first time since Dec. 14-18, 2015, when Pittsburgh lost its first four games after Mike Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston as coach. Since then, Pittsburgh has gone 90 consecutive regular-season games without back-to-back regulation losses. The Penguins have won four straight games against the Ottawa Senators and are 7-0-2 in the past nine, including an 8-5 win in Pittsburgh on Dec. 5. The Penguins gave up two power-play goals to the Capitals, the first time they gave up multiple power-play goals in a game since they allowed three to the Senators on Dec. 5. The Penguins lead the NHL with an average of 3.48 goals per game.

Senators team scope

The Senators haven't played since a 5-3 victory against the Edmonton Oilers at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday that ended their four-game losing streak. Ottawa is 1-3-1 since winning four in a row Dec. 17-22. The Senators were 1-for-1 on the power play against the Oilers, ending a four-game streak without a power-play goal in which they were 0-for-14. It was their ninth power-play goal at home in 68 opportunities (13.2%, 27th in the NHL). Goaltender Mike Condon, acquired from the Penguins on Nov. 2, will make his eighth consecutive start. This is the second straight game in which the Senators' opponent will be playing the second of back-to-back games.

Penguins projected lineup

Conor Sheary -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Carl Hagelin -- Evgeni Malkin -- Patric Hornqvist
Chris Kunitz -- Nick Bonino -- Phil Kessel
Scott Wilson -- Matt Cullen -- Eric Fehr
Trevor Daley -- Kris Letang
Ian Cole -- Justin Schultz
Olli Maatta -- Steve Oleksy
Matt Murray
Marc-Andre Fleury
Scratched:David Warsofsky
Injured:Brian Dumoulin (jaw), Chad Ruhwedel (illness), Tom Kuhnhackl (lower body)

Senators projected lineup

Zack Smith -- Derick Brassard -- Mark Stone
Ryan Dzingel -- Kyle Turris -- Bobby Ryan
Mike Hoffman -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Tom Pyatt
Chris Kelly -- Curtis Lazar -- Chris Neil
Marc Methot -- Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf -- Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki -- Chris Wideman
Mike Condon
Matthew O'Connor
Scratched:Fredrik Claesson
Injured:Andrew Hammond (ankle), Clarke MacArthur (concussion)
Personal leave:Craig Anderson

Status report

Murray dressed as Fleury's backup against the Capitals.

Who's hot

Crosby has five goals and 12 points in his past nine games, 12 goals and 26 points in his past 19. Malkin has five goals and 11 points in his past nine games, nine goals and 27 points in his past 20 games. Kessel has two goals and six assists during a six-game point streak. Letang has a goal and six assists in his past six games. Schultz has a goal and five assists during a six-game point streak, seven goals and 21 points in his past 18. …Smith has five goals and four assists in his past seven games. Stone has two goals and three assists in five games.