WATCH: Penguins vs. Capitals
TIME: 8 p.m. EST
PLACE: Verizon Center
TV: NBCSN
RADIO: 105.9 FM, the X
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
The Pens face the Capitals for the 3rd time this season … Pittsburgh defeated Washington, 3-2, in a shootout, in its home-opener banner-raising night on Oct. 13. The Pens lost in Washington, 7-1, on Nov. 16 … The Pens have won 5 straight games … Pittsburgh has killed 31 of the last 34 penalties (91.2%) … Sidney Crosby has points in 13 of his last 15 games (11G-18A-29PTS) … Justin Schultz enters the game riding a career-long 5-game point streak (1G-4A) … Conor Sheary is carrying a career-best 4-game point streak (2G-3A) … Phil Kessel has a 5-game point streak (2G-4A) … Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 7-0-1 in his past 8 decisions. He will start, while Matt Murray (lower-body, 1 game missed) will backup … The Capitals have won 6 straight games following a 4-1 victory in Montreal on Monday night … Alex Ovechkin scored his 544th career NHL goal against the Habs, tying Montreal great Maurice Richard. Ovechkin is 1 point shy of 1,000 for his career … Goalie Braden Holtby, who was named the NHL's 3rd Star last week, has surrendered 1 goal in his past 3 games, posting back-to-back shutouts. Holtby's shutout streak lasted 169:12 minutes … Head coach Barry Trotz coached in his 1,400-career NHL game against Montreal. He is 1 win shy of passing Pat Quinn (684) for 7th place on the all-time wins list … The Caps are the healthiest team in the NHL, missing a grand total of 9 man-games lost this season.
MORNING SKATE REPORT:
\The Pens held an optional morning. The only players not on the ice were Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, Matt Cullen and Chad Ruhwedel.
\Kessel, Ruhwedel and Trevor Daley are all recovering from illness. According to head coach Mike Sullivan, all are available for tonight's game
\Pittsburgh recalled defenseman David Warsofsky this morning, while goaltender Tristan Jarry was re-assigned to WBS
\Marc-Andre Fleury will start in goal
