The Thrashers vs. Penguins matchup tonight (7:00 PM Eastern) headlines a slate of NHL games that also includes Lightning vs. Bruins, Rangers vs. Islanders, Canadiens vs. Devils, and Oilers vs. Maple Leafs (all 7:00 PM), as well as Sharks vs. Senators (7:30), Capitals vs. Stars (8:30), and Panthers vs. Kings (10:30).
The Penguins and Thrashers have come a long way since their last meeting, on November 13, when Evgeni Malkin had a hat trick en route to a 4-2 Pens win. The Penguins' current seven-game winning streak is nearly matched by that of the Thrashers, who have won six straight. While Sidney Crosby was named the Penguins' first star of the month of November for leading the Pens in their recent streak, Thrashers defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, who has 11 points in his past six games, was the third star. And while the Pens' surge has also been keyed by a hot goalie (Marc-Andre Fleury), the Thrashers have a hot goalie of their own, with Ondrej Pavelec manning the net for their entire six-game winning streak and allowing just five goals in those six games.