RANGERS AT PENGUINS PREVIEW

Pittsburgh looks to win second of back-to-back after losing first; Zibanejad has 12 points in past eight games for New York

RANGERS (25-24-8) AT PENGUINS (30-21-7)

12:30 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVAS

THE GAME

The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to avoid a 10th loss in 15 games when they play the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday.

The Penguins lost 5-4 to the Calgary Flames on Saturday after winning their previous two games. They are 5-8-1 in their past 14 games and trail the Carolina Hurricanes by one point for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

The Rangers are 7-4-1 in their past 12 games but have alternated wins and losses during their past six (3-2-1). They are 10 points behind the Hurricanes for the second wild card.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad has 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in his past eight games and 21 (13 goals, eight assists) in his past 14 games.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby has eight points (two goals, six assists) during a four-game point streak and 33 (10 goals, 23 assists) in his past 25 games.

THEY SAID IT

"You just really are dialed in and going day to day. ... There a lot of times that I don't know what day it is. I don't know the date. I didn't know it was Valentine's Day the other day until I woke up in the morning." -- Rangers coach David Quinn on remaining focused

"Our approach has to be just building on the process, focusing on the process, and making sure we get better for the next game." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

RANGERS PROJECTED LINEUP

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Mats Zuccarello

Jimmy Vesey -- Kevin Hayes -- Pavel Buchnevich

Vladislav Namestnikov -- Ryan Strome -- Jesper Fast

Filip Chytil -- Boo Nieves -- Connor Brickley

Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk

Fredrik Claesson -- Adam McQuaid

Brendan Smith -- Kevin Shattenkirk

Alexandar Georgiev

Henrik Lundqvist

SCRATCHED: Tony DeAngelo

INJURED: Brady Skjei (upper body), Brett Howden (MCL sprain)

PENGUINS PROJECTED LINEUP

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust

Phil Kessel -- Evgeni Malkin -- Nick Bjugstad

Teddy Blueger -- Jared McCann -- Patric Hornqvist

Zach Aston-Reese -- Matt Cullen -- Garrett Wilson

Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang

Jack Johnson -- Justin Schultz

Marcus Pettersson -- Chad Ruhwedel

Casey DeSmith

Matt Murray

Scratched: Dominik Simon, Tanner Pearson, Juuso Riikola

Injured: Olli Maatta (upper body)

STATUS REPORT

Claesson is expected to play after missing 13 games with a shoulder injury. ... Quinn said Skjei would be a game-time decision. ... DeSmith could start after making seven saves in the third period Saturday. He relieved Murray, who made 19 saves on 24 shots.

STAT PACK

Zuccarello has five assists during a three-game point streak and 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in his past 13 games. ... Crosby needs three goals to tie Jaromir Jagr for second most in Penguins history (439). Mario Lemieux is first with 690 goals in 915 games.