Stars aligned for Pens tonight?

Not only will tonight's game against the Rangers feature the return of Sidney Crosby, but now Kris Letang will also make his return to the lineup.

The return of Letang adds another offensive dimension that the Penguins have been missing.  It also means that the power play will likely consist of Malkin, Neal and Kunitz up front with Crosby and Letang on the points.  If they want to work Sid down low, they can pull Kunitz and put Sullivan at the point with Letang.

The Rangers will be without Lundqvist and will start Martin Biron, who has not faced the Pens this year.

The Rangers are also without Ryan Callahan and Michael Del Zotto.  Callahan is their #2 in goal scoring.  Del Zotto is on the second defensive pairing.  Given the lineup for the Pens will have two excellent scoring lines (maybe three, depending on where Sid spends most of his time), being without Del Zotto is significant.  Suddenly you'll have either Anton Stralman or Stu Bickel going up against either Malkin or Crosby (pick your poison).

Of course, you know this means the Rangers will circle the wagons and this will be one tough game.