The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to bank points during an injury-plagued first half of the season and look to add a few more when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday night. Pittsburgh, which is waiting for All-Stars Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby to come back from injuries, announced that center Nick Bjugstad underwent core muscle surgery and defenseman Justin Schultz (lower body) would be out indefinitely before Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.

The Ottawa Senators are within one win of reaching the NHL version of .500, a rather remarkable development after the team stumbled out of the gate by losing seven of their first eight games (1-6-1). A winner of four of its last five, Ottawa returns home to face the New York Rangers on Friday night in the third meeeting between the teams.