MATCH:Penguins vs. Rangers
TIME:8 p.m. EST
PLACE:Madison Square Garden
TV:NBCSN
RADIO:105.9 FM, the X
5 THINGS
1.Bryan Rust skated at practice on Tuesday and did line rushes. He hopes to play tonight, but that decision will be up to the coaching staff.
2.Center Evgeni Malkin was named the NHL's "Third Star" of the Week. He posted 8 points (3G-5A) in 4 games to climb to 87 (39G-48A) on the season, which is 4 points behind NHL-leader Nikita Kucherov. Since Jan. 1, 2018, Malkin's 51 points (25G-26A) are the most in the league.
3.Pittsburgh's blueliners have scored in 12 of the last 16 games (15 total), led by Olli Maatta's 4 tallies.
4.The Rangers have a different look since last playing the Pens. New York has traded Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Michael Grabner, Nick Holden and Ryan Grave.
5.One player the Rangers acquired in all of those trades is Ryan Spooner (Boston). He has 13 points (2G-11A) in his first 8 games with New York, including 7 points in the first 3 contests.
INJURIES
PIT - Zach Aston-Reese (upper-body), Bryan Rust (concussion), Matt Murray (concussion), Dominik Simon (lower-body).
NYR - David Desharnais (kidney stone), Steven Kampfer (fractured hand), Ondrej Pavelec (MCL sprain), Kevin Shattenkirk (meniscus tear).
MORNING SKATE
* The Pens held an optional morning skate. Here are the projected lines:
Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary
Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist
(Rust)-Brassard-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Rowney
Dumoulin-Letang
Oleksiak-Schutlz
Maatta-Ruhwedel
DeSmith
Rust will be a game-time decision.
