The Penguins' road matchup against the Dallas Stars heads a list of nine NHL games to be played Wednesday night. This might have been a very exciting game for the Pens - Jordan Staal was expected to return after missing the first several weeks of the season, but he'll be gone for an extended period after breaking his hand in practice Monday.
Coach Dan Bylsma, however, says that with the exception of Staal and Alex Goligoski, the Pens are quite healthy - Evgeni Malkin and Zbynek Michalek both practiced yesterday and appear ready to play, and the status of defenseman Kris Letang (hand) will be evaluated today.
"It's not comfortable, but good enough," Letang said. "It's not like I can't hold my stick or anything like that. I can shoot, but it's not the hardest shot I can take. I'm going to see in the morning if I can go."
Bylsma also said he had not decided whether Brent Johnson or the struggling Marc-Andre Fleury would start in goal.
The game will be at 8:30 PM, and will be broadcast locally on FSN Pittsburgh. In other NHL action, the Bruins play the Sabres and the Maple Leafs play the Caps at 7:00 PM. The Thrashers take on the Panthers at 7:30. The Devils and Blackhawks play at 8:30. At 9:30, the Red Wings play at Calgary, and at 10:00 there's Nashville vs. Phoenix and Tampa Bay vs. Anaheim.