The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. Face-off is 7pm. Pre-game on WISR will be 6:30pm. The Pens begin the night one point behind the Blue Jackets, and currently out of a playoff spot. The Pens will play three of their next six games against Columbus. They have 20 games remaining in the regular season.
The Pens will be without top defensemen Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin for tonight’s game. The Pens have also recalled defenseman Zach Trotman from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and sent down forward Teddy Blueger. Blueger had three goals and four points in his first nine NHL games with the Pens.
The Penguins made two trades prior to the NHL Trade deadline Monday afternoon. The Pens acquired defenseman Erik Gudbranson from Vancouver for winger Tanner Pearson. He brings in a league-worst -27 rating, but brings in an enforcing role.
The Pens also sent Jean-Sebastian Dea to to Florida for defenseman Chris Wideman – both were playing at the AHL level.