Sharks at Penguins
Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been picking up steam in January to serve notice throughout the NHL that the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions aren't going away quietly. Crosby and the Penguins look to pick up where they left off as they return from the All-Star break to host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
Crosby is riding high with a nine-game assist and point streak (three goals, 16 assists), during which the two-time Hart Trophy winner also set up a goal in Pittsburgh's 2-1 setback at San Jose on Jan. 20. That loss was just the second in the last nine outings for the Penguins, who have won the first two contests of their four-game homestand to improve to 17-7-1 at PPG Paints Arena and ascend into third place in the congested Metropolitan Division. San Jose aims to strengthen its grasp on second in the Pacific after it loosened a bit with back-to-back one-goal losses on the heels of wins in five of its previous six contests. All-Star defenseman Brent Burns (team-high 34 assists, 41 points) set up a pair of goals in the previous tilt versus the Penguins and aims to extend his six-game assist and point streak as the Sharks open a five-game road trip in the Steel City.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), ATT Sportsnet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE SHARKS (26-15-7): Logan Couture has turned it on this month with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last 10 games, including four (three goals, one assist) during his last three games after being held off the scoresheet in the first meeting with Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has a team-high 20 tallies on the season, putting him within five of his total in 2016-17 and 12 shy of his career-best campaign in 2010-11. Martin Jones is expected to return to the crease after sitting out his team's last four games with an undisclosed ailment, although his 5-7-2 mark on the road with a 2.85 goals-against average leave a bit to be desired.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (27-21-3): Matt Murray is expected to return to the crease on Tuesday, marking 26 full days since his last start (Jan. 4) and 23 since his last game action (Jan. 7). The 23-year-old left the team to spend time with his family prior to the death of his father, James, on Jan. 16, and was kept on the bench when he returned to the club by coach Mike Sullivan. Murray has silenced the Sharks during his young career, turning aside all 32 shots he faced in his lone encounter last season and posting a slim 1.77 goals-against average as Pittsburgh captured the Stanley Cup in 2016 with a six-game triumph.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin has recorded 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in his past nine games while LW Carl Hagelin has eight points (two goals, six assists) in past eight.
2. Sharks RW Kevin Labanc has six points (one goal, five assists) in the past five contests, but was held off the scoresheet in the encounter with the Penguins.
3. Pittsburgh's top-ranked power play has scored 17 times in its last 16 games overall, but went 0-for-3 in its previous game versus San Jose.