Tampa Bay is 20-3-1 in its past 24 games but has alternated wins and losses in its past four (2-2-0). The Lightning scored two goals or fewer in three of those four games. Pittsburgh has lost back-to-back games and is 1-4-0 in its past five after going 10-1-0 in its previous 11. The Penguins have allowed at least five goals in four of their past five games, and at least four in five of their past six.
Players to watch
Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) during a six-game point streak. Penguins center Sidney Crosby has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past six games after having 15 (four goals, 11 assists) in his previous eight.
They said it
"We can't get down in this game because they're so talented." -- Lightning forward Alex Killorn "[Tampa Bay] is the best team in the League, and we have to play our best to beat them." -- Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist
Tyler Johnson will return for the Lightning after missing their 6-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 19 with a lower-body injury. ... Jack Johnson is expected to play for Pittsburgh after leaving a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday with an undisclosed injury. ... Schultz, wearing a red no contact jersey, joined the Penguins for the morning skate for the first time since he was injured against Montreal on Oct. 13.
Stat pack
Point will play his 200th NHL game. He has 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in his past 16 games and scored three power-play goals in 91 seconds in a 4-3 win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 15. ... Malkin needs one assist for 600 in the NHL, which would make him the fourth player in Penguins history to reach that mark ( Mario Lemieux , Jaromir Jagr , Crosby) and the fourth Russia-born player in NHL history with 600 assists ( Sergei Fedorov , Sergei Zubov , Pavel Datsyuk ). Letang needs one goal to tie Paul Coffey for the most by a defenseman in Penguins history (108).
