Penguins at Flyers
Sidney Crosby hasn't missed a beat since returning from a 28-game absence due to a core muscle injury, collecting eight points (three goals, five assists) in four contests to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins surging along. The superstar captain aims to send the Penguins to their seventh win in eight contests on Tuesday when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers.
Crosby, who set up a pair of goals in Pittsburgh's 4-3 comeback victory over Boston on Sunday afternoon, collected a goal and two assists in a 7-1 romp over Philadelphia on Oct. 29. The two-time Hart Trophy recipient has flustered the Flyers throughout his career to the tune of racking up 102 points (42 goals, 60 assists) in 68 encounters. Travis Konecny, who is Philadelphia's lone All-Star representative, boosted his team-leading goal total to 17 after tallying twice in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Los Angeles. The 22-year-old Konecny is also tied for the team lead in points (42) with Sean Couturier, who has 12 (three goals, nine assists) in his last nine games.
TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (31-13-5): Justin Schultz sported a regular jersey during Monday's practice, a positive sign as the offensive-minded defenseman bids to return from a lower-body injury that has sidelined him for the past 15 games. "Obviously, full contact today so hopefully I'll get (back in the lineup) as quick as I can," Schultz said. "Not ruling (Tuesday) out. So, we'll see how I feel tomorrow." Dominik Simon admitted that he felt better after participating in Monday's practice, one day after exiting the game against the Bruins on two occasions with a lower-body injury.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (26-17-6): Claude Giroux has been front and center during the bitter rivalry between the Keystone State representatives, and the longtime captain feels that those days could be a reality again if the teams continue to ascend. "I think it's different (than the rivalry used to be)," Giroux said. "When I first came into the league, the first six years I think it was at the highest peak possible. Those rivalry teams, it just needs one game to get it back up to where it (was)." Giroux, who set up a pair of tallies against the Kings, resides one goal shy of 250, three assists short of 550 and four points away from 800 for his career.
OVERTIME
1. The teams are each playing their final game before the league-mandated five-day break. They won't play again until Jan. 31, against each other in Pittsburgh.
2. Flyers G Brian Elliott sports an 8-4-2 record in 15 career appearances versus the Penguins, albeit with a 3.19 goals-against average.
3. Pittsburgh C Dominik Kahun is out indefinitely after sustaining a concussion on Sunday.