Penguins at Lightning preview

PENGUINS (2-1-1) at LIGHTNING (2-1-0)
7:30 p.m. ET; SN360, SN1, TVA Sports, SUN, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV

In nine seasons with the Penguins, Kunitz had 388 points (169 goals, 219 assists) and won the Stanley Cup three times. He signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Lightning on July 1.
Pittsburgh is playing the second half of a back-to-back after a 3-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Conor Sheary scored the game-winning goal, and Patric Hornqvist had a goal and an assist in his first game of the season. He missed the first three games because of a hand injury.
Lightning center Steven Stamkos has at least one point in each of the Lightning's first three games but has yet to score a goal.

Players to watch

Evgeni Malkin has 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 career regular-season games against the Lightning.
Vladislav Namestnikov has eight points (four goals, four assists) in six career regular-season games against the Penguins including his only NHL hat trick, on Jan. 15, 2016.

They said it

"We just played two really good teams. They were both emotional games. They both had a physical dimension to them. It's encouraging that we're playing the game hard and that's what it takes to win." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, after the win against the Capitals on Wednesday
"I think you build a reputation around the League of going out there and playing hard, doesn't matter who it's against. Just because they're some friends and people you've spent a lot of time with doesn't mean you take it easy on them." -- Lightning forward Chris Kunitz

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Carl Hagelin -- Evgeni Malkin -- Phil Kessel
Conor Sheary -- Greg McKegg -- Patric Hornqvist
Tom Kuhnhackl -- Carter Rowney -- Ryan Reaves
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Olli Maatta -- Chad Ruhwedel
Matt Hunwick -- Justin Schultz
Antti Niemi
Matt Murray
Scratched: Josh Archibald](https://www.nhl.com/player/josh-archibald-8476326?season=20172018), Scott Wilson, Chris Summers
Injured:Ian Cole (jaw)

Lightning projected lineup

Vladislav Namestnikov -- Steven Stamkos -- Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat -- Brayden Point -- Yanni Gourde
Chris Kunitz - Gabriel Dumont -- Ryan Callahan
Alex Killorn -- Tyler Johnson
Victor Hedman -- Jake Dotchin
Mikhail Sergachev -- Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn -- Dan Girardi
Slater Koekkoek
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Peter Budaj
Scratched:JT Brown, Andrej Sustr
Injured:Cedric Paquette (undisclosed)

Status report

The Penguins did not have a morning skate after playing Wednesday against the Capitals. ... The Lightning are likely to dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards, which they also did in their 5-4 overtime win against the Capitals on Monday. Killorn and Johnson will rotate into different spots on the top two lines. … Paquette participated in an optional morning skate after missing practice Wednesday. He's considered day-to-day.

Stat pack

The Penguins went 3-0-0 against the Lightning last season. ... The Lightning are looking to start the season with three consecutive home wins for the second straight season.