PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (17-11-4), 5th place in eastern conference
take on the
BUFFALO SABRES (16-12-3), 6th place in eastern conference
Both teams are playing the second half of back-to-backs, but the Sabres come to town off a 5-4 home victory against Toronto, while the Penguins are home following a wild 6-4 loss in Ottawa.
Expected in goal tonight:
vs.
Who's Hot: Vanek has four goals in his last five games. … Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin has seven points during a four-game scoring streak.
Both teams are riddled by injury at the moment. The Sabres were without a half-dozen regulars on Friday, including forwards Ville Leino and Jochen Hecht (lower body). Forwards Brad Boyes (knee and Nathan Gerbe (concussion) and defenseman Tyler Myers (wrist) are on injured reserve.
… In addition to Crosby, defenseman Kris Letang is also out with a concussion. Center Jordan Staal (lower body) sat out Friday, and defenseman Paul Martin left early in the third after absorbing a hit from Ottawa's Chris Phillips and did not return. Bylsma said Martin has a lower-body injury. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek expected to play against Ottawa but was held out of the lineup because his concussion symptoms had not completely disappeared. Richard Park (broken foot) is also out.
Time to get off the schnide tonight. Good juju only in this thread. Yinz know da roolz.
