Devils at Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins would like to follow the path of their captain Sidney Crosby, who answered a bout with the stomach flu to capture Most Valuable Player honors at the NHL All-Star Game. After countering a 10-1-0 stretch with losses in three of their last four contests, the Penguins look to get healthier as well on Monday when they host the New Jersey Devils.
Crosby, who collected eight points (four goals, four assists) as the Metropolitan Division representatives defeated the Atlantic and Central foes, recorded 25 (six goals, 19 assists) of his club-best 57 points in his last 18 games. The two-time Hart Trophy recipient, however, was held off the scoresheet in Pittsburgh's 5-1 setback against New Jersey on Nov. 5 before setting up a pair of goals eight nights later in a 4-2 loss to the Devils. Reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall (club-best 26 assists) recorded two goals and two assists in that latter encounter, but was not on the ice for Sunday's practice as he works his way back from a lower-body injury that has sidelined him since the Christmas break. Despite their success versus Pittsburgh, the cellar-dwelling Devils skidded into the break with losses in three straight and six of eight overall while brandishing a dismal 5-17-3 mark when designated as the road team.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, MSG Plus (New Jersey), AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-23-7): Kyle Palmieri replaced Hall in the All-Star Game and scored and set up a goal for the victorious Metropolitan team, however the 27-year-old has recorded just four of his club-best 22 goals and five of his team-leading 38 points since the Christmas break. "It's been a roller coaster of a season for us," Palmieri told reporters. "We've got a lot of games left. There's a lot of hockey to be played. Hopefully, come out of the break and build some momentum." Palmieri notched three assists versus the Penguins this season, with two coming on the power play to help Brian Boyle post his first career hat trick in the first meeting.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (26-16-6): While Kris Letang collected five points (two goals, three assists) during the two contests in the All-Star Game, the defenseman told reporters that Crosby likely could've doubled that total in goals had he been operating at 100 percent. "Maybe he is still sick. He could have had like 10 goals tonight, I don't know," the 31-year-old Letang told reporters. "That's how special he is." Letang has been pretty special in his own right with 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in his last 17 games, although he was held without one in the two previous meetings with New Jersey.
OVERTIME
1. New Jersey C Travis Zajac has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six games heading into the tilt with Pittsburgh, against which he collected two goals and an assist earlier this season.
2. Penguins F Jake Guentzel, who scored in the second encounter with the Devils, has recorded eight of his club-best 24 goals in January.
3. New Jersey G Keith Kinkaid turned aside 64 of 67 shots to win both meetings with Pittsburgh this season and improve his career mark to 5-2-2 versus the club.