Let the Hate Begin: GameDay Game #5: Pens v. Capitals

Just when you thought you could buckle down and get into a groove for this 2011-12 season, you wake up pull up the calendar on your phone, and notice the Washington Capitals blocked out for 7 PM. Your blood begins to boil, and you suddenly become angry. Welcome the hate, it's a good thing. The rivalry will be renewed at the CONSOL Energy Center tonight, for the first of four regular season games between the Penguins and Capitals.

Pittsburgh Penguins (3-0-1) vs. Washington Capitals (2-0-0)

7:00 PM CONSOL Energy Center

Watch: ROOT Sports, NHL Network

Listen: Penguins 24/7 Radio, 105.9

Penguins' Potential Lines

Forwards

Steve Sullivan - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal

Chris Kunitz - Jordan Staal - Tyler kennedy

Matt Cooke - Joe Vitale - Pascal Dupuis

Asham/Park/MacIntyre - Mark Letestu - Craig Adams

Defensemen

Kris Letang - Deryk Engelland

Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek

Matt Niskanen - Ben Love Joy

Goalie

Brent Johnson

Capitals' Potential Lines

Forwards

Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Troy Brouwer

Alexander Semin - Brooks Laich - Mike Knuble

Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perreault - Joel Ward

D.J. King - Jeff Halpern - Jay Beagle

Defensemen

Roman Hamrilk - Mike Green

John Carlson - Karl Alzner

Jeff Schultz - Dennis Wideman

Goalie

Tomas Vokoun

POFA's Notes

Evgeni Malkin is a game time decision.  

Marc-Andre Fleury will not start tonight but will be available to back up Brent Johnson.  MAF has a cold or flu or something.

The Penguins have lost all seven of the past regular season games in Pittsburgh against the Capitals. 

The Penguins are attempting to go five games without a regulation loss to start the season for the first time since 1994-95 when they started the season 11-0-1.

This will be Matt Niskanen's 300th NHL game.