Match-up - Pittsburgh Penguins (19-6-3) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (11-15-2) Road/Home records - 9-2-2 -------------- 5-8-1 TV - ROOT, FS-O Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - 0-0 Last 10 - Penguins: 6-3-1 ------------ Blue Jackets: 5-4-1 Projected starting goalies - Marc-Andre Fleury vs Sergei Bobrovsky
Projected lines for the Capitals via DailyFaceoff.com:
*assigned to AHL, not sure of replacement
Blake Comeau - Evgeni Malkin - Jayson Megna* Nick Spaling - Brandon Sutter - Patric Hornqvist Rob Klinkhammer - Marcel Goc - Steve Downie Zach Sill - Andrew Ebbett - Craig Adams
Christian Ehrhoff - Kris Letang Paul Martin - Robert Bortuzzo Rob Scuderi - Simon Despres
Injured: Sidney Crosby, Beau Bennett, Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Olli Maatta.
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Boone Jenner - Ryan Johansen - Jack Skille Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson Kerby Rychel - Nick Foligno - Brian Gibbons Corey Tropp - Michael Chaput - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski Jordan Leopold - Dalton Prout
Injured: Scott Hartnell, Artem Anisimov, Nathan Horton, Mark Letestu, Ryan Murray, Fedor Tyutin.
Game notes:
- The Penguins are missing a lot of talent up front, but there are still some game breakers in their lineup and they shouldn't be taken lightly. They are a good team at 5 vs 5, but they're a great one in terms of special teams. If the Jackets can keep things at even-strength and force the Penguins to use their lesser depth players it should give them an advantage.
- The loss of Scott Hartenll for a couple weeks certainly stings, but Kerby Rychel has played well prior to the scratchings and he should be able to fill his role in the short-term. If he can continue to produce and play well over his next few games perhaps he'll be able to establish himself as a regular.
- Ryan Johansen has recorded points in consecutive games for the first time since his 10-game point streak to begin the season. The Jackets will need consistent production from him if they're going to crawl out of this early season hole.
- Sergei Bobrovsky has ~.950SV% over his last five starts. If he can put together another quality start tonight the Jackets will have a good chance to extend their winning streak to six.
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