Penguins at Coyotes
No one will say definitively whether Sidney Crosby will play when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, but Saturday's practice may have spoke volumes. Crosby, who last played Nov. 9 and underwent sports hernia surgery Nov. 14, worked out with the team in full capacity and participated in line rushes with the top power-play unit.
"You can see him getting stronger with each day that he's out there," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan, whose club has gone 17-6-4 without its captain, told reporters. Arizona completed a 1-2-0 trip with back-to-back shutout losses, including 3-0 to Carolina on Friday that was marred by Antti Raanta suffering a lower-body injury in his first game since missing the last two contests and one period with the same ailment. "We're getting a little adversity with the goaltending," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet told the media. "That doesn't mean we're going to rush (Darcy Kuemper) back, but (Raanta) has to be healthy. (Adin Hill) is going to have to come in here ... and we'll go from there." The Penguins have won five straight meetings, including 2-0 on Dec. 6 behind 33 saves by Tristan Jarry.
TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Arizona Plus
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (27-12-5): Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist in Friday's 4-3 overtime victory at Colorado and has essentially a team-leading 42 points with Jack Guentzel (43) likely out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Dominik Kahun recorded a career-high three assists Friday and has a goal and four assists in his last two games. Jared McCann scored in overtime against Colorado and has two of his 12 goals in the last three games while Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist, giving him 12 points (five goals) in his last eight contests.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (25-18-4): The club does not play back-to-back games until January 29-30, so Hill (1-1-0, 2.43 goals-against average, .925 save percentage in five games) could play them all until Raanta or Kuemper (lower body) returns. Arizona is in a five-way battle for Pacific Division supremacy as it stays afloat despite its goaltender issues. "... I think we just want to get some rest here and get ready to play (Pittsburgh) at home with a fresh mind, and I think we'll be fine," forward Clayton Keller told reporters.
OVERTIME
1. Coyotes RW Michael Grabner on Friday cracked the lineup for the first time since missing the last five games as a healthy scratch and was a minus-2 in 9 minutes, 25 seconds.
2. Malkin on Friday recorded his 640th assist, moving him to a tie for third all-time in club history with Jaromir Jagr behind Mario Lemieux (1,033) and Sidney Crosby (782).
3. Arizona and its second-best penalty-killing unit hasn't allowed a power-play goal in seven games (18 chances) and is 32-for-34 on the kill over its last 13 contests while Pittsburgh is 1-for-14 on the power play in the last six games.