Tonight the Jets will face-off against the Penguins as they desperately attempt to inch closer to a wild card spot with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s crucial matchup.

Mathieu Perreault-Mark Scheifele-Patrik Laine

Nikolaj Ehlers-Bryan Little-Blake Wheeler

Shawn Matthias-Adam Lowry-Joel Armia

Marko Dano-Andrew Copp- Chris Thorburn

 

Josh Morrissey-Jacob Trouba

Toby Enstrom-Dustin Byfuglien

Ben Chiarot-Paul Postma

 

Connor Hellebuyck

Michael Hutchinson

Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Connor Sheary

Carl Hagelin-Evgeni Malkin-Phil Kessel

Jake Guentzel-Nick Bonino-Patric Hornqvist

Tom Kuhnhackl-Matt Cullen-Tom Sestito

 

Brian Dumoulin-Justin Schultz

Mark Streit-Ron Hainsey

Ian Cole-Chad Ruhwedel

 

Matt Murray

Marc-Andre Fleury

High Intensity: When the Penguins insert Tom Sestito, a recipient of 475 penalty minutes throughout his 149 NHL games played, a message is sent. The timing isn’t a coincidence, as these two teams meet for the first time since Febuary 16th, where Evgeni Malkin’s high-hit on Blake Wheeler resutled in a fair amount of extra cirriculars betewen whistles. Tonight looks to be no different.

Press-Box Petan: I’m not surprised Nic Petan is out of the lineup tonight. For some reason Nic Petan remains on the team’s fourth line and in a game like tonight where the Jets need to add some meat on the fourth unit, Marko Dano, Chris Thorburn and Andrew Copp are going to get the nod over Petan.  But, with that said, without Petan in the bottom six, the team’s top six will have to be relied on heavily. Not having a balanced top-nine is going to hurt the Jets in a game against Pittsburgh that has immesne amounts of skill and speed in their top-nine

Sid vs Mini Ovi: The league’s two best goal scorers will go head-to-head tonight as Patrik Laine and Sidney Crosby will line up across from one-another. Crosby currently leads all scorers with 34 goals, while Laine trails by two with 32.

Standings outlook: If a playoff berth remains the goal for the Jets; things aren’t looking too good. The Jets sit five points behind a wild card spot, along with having two games in hand on both the Blues and Kings, the two team’s in the way of the Jets.

How to watch? Puck drop is slated for 7:00 CT and the game will be broadcasted on Sportsnet. As always, you can catch all the action on TSN 1290 Radio as well.