Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. Columbus Blue Jackets GameDay, TV/Radio, And Preview

After their 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at home on Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins (19-6-3, 41 points) are back in action tonight in Ohio as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sidney Crosby will miss his second straight game as he is being held out of this weekend’s contests for precautionary reasons. The Captain may have the mumps, which has been making its way around the National Hockey League this season. He remained back in Pittsburgh to undergo further testing.

With Thursday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Capitals in Washington, Todd Richards’ crew (11-15-2, 24 points) has won five in a row and are in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets are 5-8-1 at home this season.

It is the first of four meetings this season when these teams get together at center ice this evening. It is also the first matchup between the Pens and Jackets since the Black and Gold won Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 28.

When: Saturday, Dec. 13

Puck Drop: 7:05 p.m.

Site: Nationwide Arena

Television: ROOT Sports Network

Announcers: Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey

Radio Coverage: 105.9 FM – The X and the Penguins Radio Network

Announcers: Mike Lange and Phil Bourque

Live Video Steam: NHL GameCenter LIVE

Audio Stream: Penguins Radio 24/7

Sirius XM Satellite Radio: XM Internet 942

Odds: According to VegasInsider.com, oddsmakers currently have the moneyline on the two teams listed as Pittsburgh -175 / Columbus +155 with the Over/Under at 5.5.

Pittsburgh swept the five-game regular-season series last season. The two teams combined for 23 goals on 300 shots. The Pens went 5 of 19 on the power play while the penalty kill unit limited the sting of the Jackets to 1 of 14 with the man advantage.

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Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to be in goal, and is 0-2-1 with a 3.25 goals-against-average and a .899 save percentage at home for the Blue Jackets against the Penguins.

Columbus recalled Kerby Rychel on Friday after putting forward Scott Hartnell on injured reserve with a broken finger. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound left wing was the 19th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, and made his NHL debut on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The Torrance, Calif. native had three assists in four games before returning to Springfield of the American Hockey League.

Evgeni Malkin had two assists against Calgary to give him 20 for the season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound center is tied with Crosby for the Pens scoring lead at 35 points apiece. He has at least one point in 23 of 28 games.

The Penguins recalled forwards Bryan Rust and Bobby Farnham from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Saturday morning while re-assigning forward Jayson Megna to WBS.

Up Next: The Black and Gold return to the friendly confines of Consol Energy Center on Monday, Dec. 15 to take on the leaders of the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning (19-8-3, 41 points). The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.

From The Clipboard: Blake Comeau has four goals and three assists for seven points in his last eight games dating back to Nov. 26…Simon Despres‘ five assists this season ties a career high previously set in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014…Malkin had a hat trick before the end of the second period in that Game 6 victory back in April.