Penguins Vs. Canadiens: Brooks Orpik Returns As Pittsburgh Hosts Struggling Montreal

The Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the Montreal Canadiens to the CONSOL Energy Center on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 PM Eastern. RDS and ROOT have the television broadcasts.

The Pens snapped a three-game losing skid Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild and will look to maintain that momentum against Montreal, which has lost each of its last three games. Only the Ottawa Senators rank below the Canadiens in the Northeast Division.

The good news for the Canadiens is they'll have Michael Cammalleri available against Pittsburgh; Montreal's three-game losing streak coincides with the three games the winger sat due to a deep thigh laceration. The Canadiens and their opponents have been even in Cammalleri's 26 minutes on the ice this season, but have been outscored by four goals with him injured or on the bench.

Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports defenseman Brooks Orpik will play his first game of the 2011-12 season Thursday; the veteran underwent abdominal surgery in July.

But the injury news isn't all good for the Penguins. Though Evgeni Malkin is listed as day-to-day, he will sit due to a knee injury, according to Anderson. In addition, Anderson reports Tyler Kennedy's concussion will keep him sidelined Thursday and "as long as there are symptoms."