Game Preview: Penguins vs. Panthers

The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Florida Panthers tonight at PPG Paints Arena at 7 PM eastern. The Panthers are currently 23-21-5 this season, and the Penguins are currently 23-15-8. The game will be viewable on Sportsnet, TVA Sports, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Florida, and ESPN+. 

The Panthers didn’t have a morning today after they lost to the New York Rangers last night 6-2. Forward Sam Bennett is a game-time decision after being hurt last night. He was injured in the second period and finished the period but didn’t return for the third. Goalie Spencer Knight is likely to start after Alex Lyon started last night. As for the Pens, Letang will be a game-time decision for tonight’s game after missing the previous 11 games with a lower-body injury and the death of his father. Tristan Jarry will start his third straight game for the Pens. Forward Kasperi Kapanen skated before the Penguins skate today but will remain out week-to-week. 

Florida Panthers Projected Lineup

Sam Reinhart – Aleksander Barkov – Anton Lundell

Matthew Tkachuk – Sam Bennett – Carter Verhaeghe

Grigori Denisenko – Nick Cousins – Eetu Luostarinen 

Ryan Lomberg – Chris Tierney – Givani Smith

Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Marc Staal – Brandon Montour 

Josh Mahura – Radko Gudas

Spencer Knight

Alex Lyon

Scratched: D Casey Fitzgerald, F Colin White

Injured: G Sergei Bobrovsky (lower body), F Eric Staal (concussion), F Anthony Duclair (Achilles), F Patric Hornqvist (concussion)

Pittsburgh Penguins Projected Lineup

Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Jason Zucker – Evgeni Malkin – Rickard Rakell

Brock McGinn – Teddy Blueger – Jeff Carter 

Drew O’Connor – Ryan Poehling – Danton Heinen

Kris Letang – Brian Dumoulin 

Marcus Pettersson – Jeff Petry

Pierre-Olivier Joseph – Chad Ruhwedel 

Tristan Jarry

Casey DeSmith

Scratched: F Jonathan Gruden, D Ty Smith, D Mark Friedman

Injured: F Josh Archibald (lower body), D Jan Rutta (upper body), F Kasperi Kapanen (lower body)