Penguins At Panthers Preview: Hayes Practices At 3C, Pickering Gametime Decision

Pittsburgh will face Florida for the second time this season after taking the first head-to-head matchup in overtime on Dec. 3

The Pittsburgh Penguins appear to be making some lineup changes ahead of their Friday tilt against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Forward Kevin Hayes - who has not played since Dec. 10 in Pittsburgh's 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche - was taking line rushes at the third-line center position during Friday's morning skate. He has been a healthy scratch since that game in Colorado.

"It's never fun not being in the lineup," Hayes said. "The team was playing well. I think I need to play better, but when a team's doing good, it's always hard to come back in. So, hopefully I make the most of that opportunity tonight."

Given the line combinations, it appears that Hayes will be taking the spot of Anthony Beauvillier in the lineup against Florida:

In addition to Hayes being slotted back in, it also appears that rookie defenseman Owen Pickering may be back in the fold after missing the past four games with a concussion. He practiced on his off-side on the third pairing next to Ryan Graves.

Despite never having played the right side at the NHL level, Pickering said his junior experience playing on his off-side make him comfortable doing so.

"I played the right side quite a bit in junior, and then played a few games in Wilkes on the right side," Pickering said. "So, if that's where I slot in, I feel comfortable there."

Goaltender Tristan Jarry will get his first start in three games for the Penguins. After playing very well for most of the month of December, Jarry has posted a sub-.900 save percentage in three of his last four starts. In his career against the Florida Panthers, Jarry is 4-4 with a .901 save percentage and 3.29 goals-against average.

Florida is second in the Atlantic Division and fifth overall in the Eastern Conference at 23-14-2. They are an even 5-5 in their last 10 games, and they are entering the second half of a back-to-back after a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.

In the past 10 games, Pittsburgh is 4-6 against Florida,. Five of the 10 games have gone to overtime, and three of the Penguins' four wins have been decided in overtime - including their most recent win on Dec. 3, which was a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory on a Bryan Rust tally. 

Friday will mark their second of three matchups against the Panthers this season.