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Jets vs. Penguins: 3 things you need to know

Bruce Fedyck / Reuters

The Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins meet Tuesday night in the final meeting of the regular season between the league's No. 5 seeds.

Here's what you need to know:

Crosby suspended

The Penguins will play without Sidney Crosby, who was suspended for missing the All-Star Game with a lower-body injury.

Crosby was injured in Pittsburgh's loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 10 and had been playing though the ailment. He received an injection this week.

The captain and reigning Hart Trophy winner has appeared in all but three games, racking up 15 goals and 36 assists in 43 contests. He is tied with Evgeni Malkin for the team lead with 51 points.

Jets cruising, Penguins floundering

As the unofficial second half begins, the Penguins are looking to reverse their fortunes while the Jets will try to extend their winning ways.

Pittsburgh lost four consecutive games heading into the break. They were outscored 17-9 in that span and lost six of their last eight contests dating back to Jan. 3.

Winnipeg won five straight and six of the last seven before breaking for the All-Star festivities.

The Penguins won the previous meeting between the two clubs, however, as Crosby scored the shootout winner in a 4-3 victory on Nov. 6.

Injuries aplenty

The Penguins may be missing more than just Crosby in Tuesday's matchup.

Evgeni Malkin was placed on injured reserve Monday and did not practice with the club. He is required to miss seven days and last played on Jan. 20, so barring a loophole, he is expected to miss Tuesday's game.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang skated in Monday's practice but has not been cleared to play. He reportedly experienced concussion symptoms after a hit from behind by Philadelphia Flyers pest Zac Rinaldo last Tuesday.

Rinaldo was suspended 8 games for the hit. 

Jets forward Mathieu Perreault practiced Monday and could return to face Pittsburgh.

Perreault was also the victim of a suspension-inducing hit, suffering an upper-body injury at the hands of Chicago Blackhawks agitator Dan Carcillo on Jan. 16.

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