The beleaguered Pittsburgh Penguins will head to Newark, New Jersey tonight in search of their first win to break their three-game losing streak.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: If there’s a team that has had more to deal with over the last few weeks than the Penguins, it’s 
the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have also been dealing with the mumps, and are currently missing forwards Patrick Elias and Michael Ryder with the virus.
Forwards Ryane Clowe and Martin Havlat and defensemen Bryce Salvador and Damon Severson are also out for tonight’s game.
The also have a hole on the bench, as head coach Peter DeBoer was fired on Friday and was not replaced. General manager Lou Lamoriello and co-coaches Scott Stevens and Adam Oates will manage the team for the rest of the season.
The Devils lost their first game under the new coaching arrangement, a 3-1 loss to the Rangers. The Devils have lost just one of their last nine games.
THE 4077: Winger Patric Hornqvist, who took a Scott Harrington slap shot off his shin in the Pens 3-0 loss to Washington on Saturday>, is expected to miss a few weeks with a lower-body injury.
Kris Letang, also hobbled in Saturday’s game, is probable to play tonight.
UP AND DOWN: The Penguins recalled forward Dominik Uher and defenseman Brian Dumoulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
It will Uher’s second stint in Pittsburgh, he played 7:17 in his NHL debut in the team’s loss to Tampa Bay last weekend. In 31 games in Wilkes-Barre, he has 4 goals, 5 assists and 37 penalty minutes.
Dumoulin has played in seven games with Pittsburgh this season and scored his first NHL goal on December 15 against Tampa Bay. In 23 AHL games, he has two goals, eight assists, and a plus-17 rating.
It appears that Scott Harrington, who was a minus-3 against the Capitals, will be scratched in favor of Dumoulin.
MINOR MATTERS: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (18-12-3, 1st AHL East) defeated the Norfolk Admirals 2-1 on Sunday. Center Nick Drazenovic scored the game-winning goal and also assisted on Conor Sheary’s first period tally. Matt Murray made 26 saves to earn the win. The AHL Penguins host the Hershey Bears Wednesday at 3:05 p.m.
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania native Tyler Murovich was scratched and returned to Wheeling this morning along with goaltender Eric Hartzell.
The Wheeling Nailers (12-14, 4th in ECHL North) lost 5-1 to the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday and were swept in the two-game weekend series. The Nailers have been playing shorthanded because of injuries and call-ups and only had 13 skaters for Sunday’s game. The lone goal was scored by defenseman David Makowski. Franky Palazzese gave up four goals on 12 shots and took the loss. Rookie Jeff Wyer made 21 of 22 saves in relief.
Makowski was called up to AHL Hamilton this morning. The Nailers continue their road trip with a game against the Gwinnett Gladiators tonight at 7:05 p.m.
Photo credit: NHL
