Matt Murray has all but locked up the No. 1 gig in Pittsburgh -- we wrote about Marc-Andre Fleury’s side of things earlier -- and tonight, Murray will make his eighth straight start when the Pens host the Jackets at PPG Paints.
Murray hasn’t been lights-out over this recent stretch -- 2.72 GAA, .916 save percentage -- but Pittsburgh has gotten results, going 5-2-0. Tonight’s game will also be a shot at redemption, because the last time Murray faced the Jackets, he got lit up. Columbus scored six times on 23 shots before head coach Mike Sullivan mercifully gave Murray the hook.
For the Jackets, Sergei Bobrovsky’s in goal.
More: Torts, Sully renew ‘rivalry’ tonight
Elsewhere...
-- The red-hot Thomas Greiss, who’s won five of six while posting a .955 save percentage, will start for the Isles in Detroit. The Red Wings will counter with Petr Mrazek.
-- James Reimer, who’s wife gave birth earlier this week, returns to action for Florida as the Panthers host the Ducks. John Gibson, who has been on fire lately, will go for Anaheim.
-- “Win and you’re in” continues for the Flames, as Brian Elliott makes his third-straight start. The host Devils will go with Cory Schneider, coming off a 27-save win over Detroit on Tuesday.
-- No surprises from the Oilers, who will yet again start Cam Talbot in goal. Cam Ward, another of the league’s busiest workhorses, should be in for Carolina, though head coach Bill Peters classified him as a game-time decision.