PREGAME: Pens vs. Isles

Consol Energy Center. 7:00. ROOT.

It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh as the Penguins (14-8-0), who are coming off a huge 4-0 win over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, face the New York Islanders (8-11-3), who were handed a 5-2 loss by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The two teams last met on October 25th at CEC, in which the Isles won 4-3.

NY's Thomas Vanek is confirmed to be returning tonight for the Isles.

Jeff Zatkoff will be in net for the Pens tonight, 20 days after his first NHL win (and shutout) against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he is ready to go:

"I've just been working hard in practice and taking care of my game, worrying about my game and good habits, and when coach tells me it's my time to go, making sure I’m ready," Zatkoff said (via penguins.nhl.com).

Dan Bylsma has also made a change in the Pens' power play by moving Paul Martin to the top unit. Martin will now be skating along with Crosby, Malkin, Kunitz, and Neal.

And watch out for Section 120 tonight because it's gonna get crazy with the #FSPensSection. Mikey and Bob from 96.1 KISS FM have rallied up 100 fans to cheer and be LOUD. Hopefully it will rub off on the rest of the CEC!

LINES:

(Via Daily Faceoff)

Kunitz - Crosby - Bennett

Dupuis - Malkin - Neal

Jokinen - Sutter - Gibbons

Glass - Vitale - Adams

Martin - Orpik

Maatta - Letang

Niskanen - Engelland

Zatkoff

Vanek - Tavares - Okposo

Bailey - Nielsen - Grabner

Bouchard - Regin - Clutterbuck

McDonald - Cizikas - Martin

MacDonald - Hamonic

Donovan - Hickey

Ness - Carkner

Poulin

INJURY REPORT:

• PIT - Kobasew has been skating and could return to practice in a few days. Scuderi (ankle) is progressing and could return around Christmas. Vokoun (blood clot) out indefinitely.
• NY - Visnovsky (concussion), Strait (upper-body), Nabokov (strained groin).

LET'S GO PENS!