NOTABLES
* The Pens travel to Ottawa for the their first showdown of the season with the Senators. Pittsburgh is 4-0-1 across the border this season.
* Pittsburgh is still trying to break out of a 1-6-1 slump.
* The Pens will be without captain Sidney Crosby as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury. Center Derick Brassard (lower-body) said that he will return to the lineup tonight following the morning skate.
* Evgeni Malkin averages 1.31 points per game when Crosby is out of the lineup, as opposed to 1.17 when Crosby is playing.
* Phil Kessel has a 3-game point streak (2G-3A) and is on pace to set career highs in goals (43) and points (101).
* Ottawa will host Pittsburgh in the finale of a 3-game homestand. The club is 1-1 in the opening 2 contests. The Sens are 6-3-2 at home this season.
* Defenseman Thomas Chabot leads the team in assists (17) and points (22). Mark Stone paces the club with 7 goals.
* Goalie Craig Anderson stopped 2 penalty shots in the 3rd period of a 2-1 win against Detroit on Thursday.
* Sens rookie Drake Batherson scored his 1st goal on his 1st shot of his 1st game for Ottawa against the Red Wings. It was the game-winning goal.
INJURIES
PIT - Derick Brassard (lower-body), Sidney Crosby (upper-body), Justin Schultz (leg fracture).
OTT - Marian Gaborik, Dan Harpur, Jean-Gabriel Pageau (all on IR).
