COLUMBUS (18-36-7, 43 Pts) @ PITTSBURGH (35-21-5, 75 Pts)
Where: Consol Energy Center | When: 1:08 pm
Buzz: Coming off a thrilling 8-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh looks to keep on rolling this afternoon at home against the NHL worst Columbus Blue Jackets.
— The Penguins will get their first look at goaltender Brad Thiessen against NHL competition today. Thiessen will make his NHL debut, head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed, and the Blue Jackets will start Curtis Sanford. The Penguins are exploring options for an upgrade at the backup goaltender position.
— Evgeni Malkin collected his 9th career hat trick on Saturday and leads the NHL with 77 points and is second In the NHL with 36 goals, the most goals Malkin has scored since he tallied 47 in 2007-2008. Malkin has 21 multi-point games on the season. He is averaging 1.43 points per game
— Jordan Staal comes into today’s game with 21 goals in 41 games, averaging 0.51 goals per game.
— Steve Sullivan enters today’s game with a four game points streak and is playing the best hockey of his career
— Matt Cooke has 5 goals and 10 points in his last 13 games
— Today could mark the final game for Rick Nash in a Blue Jackets uniform
— Newly acquired Jack Johnson will make his Blue Jackets uniform.