Penguins/NHL
Nashville Predators (32-23-5-69 pts) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (36-22-3-75 pts)
The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to rebound this afternoon against the Nashville Predators, in what will be their final game before the Olympic Break.
For some players it could very well be their final game in a Penguin uniform with the Olympic Trade freeze ending on February 28th. Pittsburgh talked earlier in the week of ending the break on a high note and the team should be highly motivated after a disappointing effort Friday night against the New York Rangers
Meanwhile, Nashville currently sits 7th in the Western Conference and are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.
A few lineup changes are expected this afternoon. Brent Johnson will be sidelined with a groin injury and John Curry will serve as Marc Andre Fleury’s backup.
Line changes are also expected as Jordan Staal will see more time on a line with Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin. Mark Letestu will center the third line with Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy.
Ruslan Fedotenko was moved to the fourth line in practice yesterday. That has happened often in the past couple weeks in practices but Fedotenko has yet to see time on the 4th line in games.
Sidney Crosby and Marc Andre Fleury will depart for Vancouver this evening, leaving from Columbus with Team Canada members Rick Nash, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrooke.
There has been no word yet on the travel arrangements for Team Russia members Sergei Gonchar, Evgeni Malkin and Brook Orpik of Team USA.
