Maple Leafs at Penguins
THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Penguins received some good news about their star player while the Toronto Maple Leafs were handed more bad news in regard to one of their studs. Sidney Crosby went through a full practice on Tuesday, marking the first time he'd done so since once again suffering concussion-like symptoms. While Crosby won't return for Wednesday's home tilt versus Toronto, it's possible that the captain could take the ice perhaps as soon as this weekend.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS, TSN
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (30-29-7): Toronto fell for the 11th time in 13 matches when it dropped a 5-4 decision to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs also lost All-Star Joffrey Lupul, who exited the contest with a wrist injury during the second period. Mikhail Grabovski, who signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension on Tuesday, paid immediate dividends by scoring versus Boston. The 28-year-old Grabovski has three goals and three assists in three games this season against Pittsburgh. For all of their troubles, the Maple Leafs are just five points behind eighth-place Winnipeg in the Eastern Conference.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (39-21-5): Hart Trophy candidate Evgeni Malkin extended his point streak to eight games and Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 36 shots as Pittsburgh posted its sixth straight win with a 2-1 triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday. The duo was also prominent in the teams' last meeting - a 5-4 victory over Toronto on Jan. 31 - as the former netted a late tally and shootout winner while the latter stopped 35 shots. Fleury, who has won 16 of his last 19 decisions overall (16-2-1), boasts an 11-7-3 career mark versus the Maple Leafs. For his part, Malkin is averaging two points per career tilt against Toronto (38 points, 19 games).
OVERTIME:
1. Former Penguin Colby Armstrong suffered a broken nose versus Boston and has been ruled out of Wednesday's matchup.
2. Pittsburgh has surrendered just two goals in its last 51 shorthanded situations dating back to the end of January.