Overview
- Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. ET with coverage on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, The Spot and ESPN+.
- The Lightning recalled Brandon Halverson and coach Jon Cooper indicated Vasilevskiy is expected back Saturday.
- Pittsburgh’s Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari practiced but will not play and are estimated 7–10 days from returning, while Rickard Rakell remains out 3–4 weeks; Tristan Jarry is projected to start.
- The Penguins enter off a 5–1 win over the Flyers and a 3–1–0 stretch, and Tampa recently had a seven-game win streak snapped but remains atop the Atlantic.
- This is the first of three meetings this season, and Tampa continues to lean on a patched defense with Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak and Brayden Point on IR.