Canes @ Pens: No lineup changes upfront or on the blueline for Pens tonight

Morning Skate Buzz

PITTSBURGH — Expect to see the same lineup for the Penguins tonight when they face the Carolina Hurricanes at home. Defenseman Paul Martin is getting closer to returning to the lineup but Martin will not be an option to return to the lineup tonight. Martin is expected to be cleared to practice tomorrow with the team.

Projected Lineup

Kunitz – Malkin – Neal

Dupuis – Staal – Kennedy

Sullivan – Vitale – Cooke

Asham – Williams – Adams

Orpik – Niskanen

Despres – Michalek

Picard – Lovejoy

Marc Andre Fleury in goal

TIDBITS: Carolina riding a two game winning streak are 4-9-4 on the road…..Pittsburgh in the midst of a three game winning streak are 10-3-2 at home….. The Penguins top line of Chris Kunitz – Evgeni Malkin and James Neal have combined for 34 points in their last seven games. Malkin has led the way with 16 points during that span. Malkin comes into tonight’s game tied for 3rd in the NHL with 40 points. He trails Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux (43 points) by three points. Malkin has 29 points in 22 games vs Carolina……James Neal comes out of the Christmas break tied for 2nd in the NHL in goals with 20. Marian Gaborik leads the league with 22…….Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury is tied for 2nd in the league with 18 wins….Jordan Staal will appear in his 400th career game….. Martin (knee), Richard Park (foot) and Dustin Jeffrey (knee) are not participating in the skate, after going through individual workouts yesterday….Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang remain off the ice. Crosby will miss his his 8th straight game and 28th overall, while Letang will miss his 12th straight game and last played on Nov 26……