Vasilevskiy_vsPens

PENGUINS (6-4-0) at LIGHTNING (4-3-1)
8 p.m. ET; NBCSN

The Penguins have been outscored 7-2 in losing two straight after a five-game winning streak. They play the second of a back to back following a 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Goalie Tristan Jarry is expected to start for Pittsburgh.
The Lightning are 2-2-0 in their past four and have been outscored 14-11, including a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy will start for Tampa Bay.

Players to watch

Penguins forward Jake Guentzel has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his past nine games.
Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has points (one goal, two assists) in three consecutive games.

They said it

"We had some opportunities, we hit a few more posts. But I love how our team is competing. I think we're competing hard. We were in a one-goal hockey game. That game could go either way. It didn't go our way tonight, but we're playing hard." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on the loss Tuesday
"We had that last game and it didn't work out for us. I don't think it's as big an advantage and everyone makes it out to be. If anything, you're a little fatigued. We know how we feel coming off a back to back. It shouldn't really change much. You can't go into the game thinking. 'We've got a tired team, it's going to be an easy night'... I mean, it's the National Hockey League." -- Lightning center Steven Stamkos on playing teams on a back to back

Penguins projected lineup
Lightning projected lineup
Status report

Paquette is expected to make his season debut after recovering from an arm injury. … Rust was among extras skating for the Penguins in a lightly attended optional morning skate.

Stat pack

Stamkos is three goals away from 400 in his NHL career. … Crosby has one assist in his past three games after starting the season on a seven-game point streak.