Pittsburgh @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 25, 2019 ) Calgary 2, Pittsburgh 3

The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to welcome back one superstar from illness, but one forward who is playing like an elite talent was under the weather on Monday. Evgeni Malkin is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Calgary Flames.

Malkin, who was bedridden for three straight days and missed two games with an illness, will attempt to become the eighth active player in the NHL to score 400 goals and the fourth member of the Penguins to reach the milestone -- joining Mario Lemieux (690), Crosby (451) and Jaromir Jagr, 439. "I'm glad I skated today. I'm still a little bit sick. It's not fun being sick," Malkin said following Monday's practice. Calgary answered a 3-2 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Nov. 25 by rolling off a season-high seven straight victories before dropping a 4-0 setback to Carolina on Saturday. "Any time you can put a streak together like we have ... we're 8-1-1 in our last 10 games, and if you look at our schedule it wasn't easy," captain Mark Giordano said.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, Sportsnet West (Calgary)

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (19-10-4): Bryan Rust overcame a broken hand to start the season by erupting for 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 19 games -- including two goals and an assist in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over Los Angeles -- but an illness was to blame for keeping him off the ice on Monday. "(Rust) wasn't feeling well so we kept him at the hotel," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow. That's the best I can give you." Jake Guentzel, who scored 4:04 into overtime in first encounter against Calgary, is riding a five-game point streak (two goals, seven assists).

ABOUT THE FLAMES (18-13-4): Calgary attempted to lighten the mood after its shutout loss to the Hurricanes by closing out Monday's practice with a spirited soccer/handball match, much to the pleasure of interim coach Geoff Ward. "Just having some fun, always a good way to end off," Ward said. "They don't even know they're working hard but they're getting some work in. Working with their feet, which is important in hockey, too." While the team had some fun, Ward was left with hard roster decisions to make as Sam Bennett (undisclosed) and Austin Czarnik (lower body) are inching closer to their respective returns from injured reserve.

OVERTIME

1. Calgary C Sean Monahan scored in the first encounter versus Pittsburgh to ignite an eight-game point streak (five goals, five assists) before Saturday's loss.

2. The Penguins are playing the second of six straight contests versus Western Conference representatives, against whom the team is 12-3-1 this season.

3. Flames C Elias Lindholm, who leads the team with 14 goals, has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six games.

PREDICTION: Flames 4, Penguins 2