MATCH:Penguins vs. Hurricanes
TIME:7:30 p.m. EST
PLACE:PNC Arena
TV:AT&T SportsNet
RADIO:105.9 FM, the X
5 THINGS
1.The Pens are in a stretch out of the holiday break where they are playing nine straight games against Eastern Conference teams, including six against Metro Division opponents. Right now, the Pens are 6-2 against teams in their own division.
2.The Pens will play tonight's game without five players who are out with injuries - the most the team has missed in a single game this year. Goalie Matt Murray (upper body), defensemen Kris Letang (lower body), Justin Schultz (lower body) and Chad Ruhwedel (upper body) and forward Bryan Rust (upper body) are all out.
The Pens recalled goalie Casey DeSmith, forward Garrett Wilson and defenseman Andrey Pedan from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
3.Tristan Jarry will start in goal for the Penguins. Jarry started all six games when Murray was out due to injury between Dec. 1-11, going 3-2 with a 2.26 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
Cam Ward will start in goal for the Hurricanes. He has won five straight games, posting a 1.95 goals-against average and .928 save percentage during that span. He has a 8-0-1 record in 10 games since Nov. 10.
4.This is the first meeting of the season between the teams. The Pens enter tonight with a five-game winning streak against the Hurricanes. Last year, they swept Carolina (4-0) for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
5.The Pens will have a big challenge tonight against the Hurricanes, who are red-hot. The Hurricanes have won three straight games and six of their last seven. They have also won five straight games on home ice, marking their longest home winning streak this season.
INJURIES
PIT - Matt Murray (upper body), Kris Letang (lower body), Justin Schultz (lower body), Chad Ruhwedel (upper body), Bryan Rust (upper body)
CAR - Lee Stempniak (upper body)
MORNING SKATE
* Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel were absent from the Pens' optional morning skate.
