Thundering? Penguins Game 22 vs. Lightning: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins (10-10-1) play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday to wrap up a two-game road trip.

The Penguins are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.

The Lightning (10-8-5) is coming off a 3-1 loss Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes.

Game Time

The game starts a little after 7 p.m.

Penguins Preview

The Penguins are 1-0-1 in their past two games following a 1-4-0 stretch.

One of the team’s overriding issues is the power play. The Penguins have gone eight straight games without a power-play goal, an 0-for-20 drought.

The Penguins sit eighth in the Eastern Conference wildcard race, but are just four points out of a wildcard spot.

This is the first of two games between the teams at Amalie Arena in less than a week. The Penguins return to Tampa for a game Wednesday.

Top-line winger Bryan Rust scored Tuesday in his return from an injury that sidelined him for three games.

Read more:

Molinari: Here’s a Power Play Problem That’s Easy to Overlook

Kingerski: Penguins Chat: Power Play, Net-Front, Trade Needs

Tampa Bay sits in a wildcard spot despite losing two in a row and three of its past four games.

Former Penguins winger Conor Sheary won’t be in the lineup. He is out because of an injury.

Expected Penguins Lines

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Drew O’Connor

Jansen Harkins-Lars Eller-Radim Zohorna

Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Jeff Carter

Defense

Ryan Graves-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-John Ludvig

Goalies

Tristan Jarry

Alex Nedeljkovic

Expected Lightning Lines

Brandon Hagel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov

Steven Stamkos – Anthony Cirelli – Mike Eyssimont

Tanner Jeannot – Nick Paul – Tyler Motte

Cole Koepke – Luke Glendening – Austin Watson

Defense

Victor Hedman – Nick Perbix

Mikhail Sergachev – Erik Cernak

Calvin de Haan – Darren Raddysh

Goailes

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Jonas Johansson

Penguins Special Teams

Penguins power play: 12.1%, 26th

Penguins penalty kill: 86.4%, 6th

Lightning power play: 32.5%, 2nd

Lightning penalty kill: 84.5%, 9^th

Penguins Game Notes

The Penguins have won four in a row against Tampa Bay, their longest streak against the Lightning since going 10-10-0 Jan. 15, 2012-Dec. 15, 2014.

Drew O’Connor, who has been filling in on the top six, is set to play his 100^th game.

Evgeni Malkin, with 19 points, and Erik Karlsson, with 18 points, are on the verge of giving the Penguins four players with at least 20 points, along with Sidney Crosby (24) and Jake Guentzel (24).

Guentzel has 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) in his past 16 games against Tampa Bay.

Crosby has 14 points (10 goals, 4 assists) in 10 road games. His 10 road goals lead the NHL.

Crosby has 563 goals, one shy of breaking into the top 25 all-time. With a goal, he will be in a three-way tie with Joe Nieuwendyk and Mats Sundin. He ranks 15^th in NHL history with 1,526 points.

How to Watch

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 105.9 FM The X