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Jeff Zatkoff News
Zatkoff starts for the Penguins.

Zatkoff stopped 28 of 29 shots in a win over the Red Wings on Saturday. Zatkoff has played very well when called upon this season, he has won five straight and is 5-2-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV%. He has a decent against a Josh Harding-less Wild squad.

Jeff Zatkoff
The Penguins did not have a morning skate, but Zatkoff is expected to start the second game of the back-to-back.

Zatkoff stopped 28 of 29 shots in a win over the Red Wings on Saturday. Zatkoff has played very well when called upon this season, he has won five straight and is 5-2-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV%. He has a decent against a Josh Harding-less Wild squad.

Jeff Zatkoff
Detroit native Jeff Zatkoff gets the start against his hometown team.

Zatkoff stopped 39 of 40 shots in a win over the Panthers. The win moved him to 4-2-0 with a 2.80 GAA and .901 SV% on the season. He has a decent matchup against a Red Wings team who have lost three straight - two via the shootout.

Jeff Zatkoff
Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has not named his starting goaltender, but Zatkoff, a Detroit native, appears to be the likely choice.

Marc-Andre Fleury played on Friday so there is a good chance that the Penguins turn to Zatkoff in his hometown. In his last start he stopped 39 of 40 shots in a win over the Panthers. The win moved him to 4-2-0 with a 2.80 GAA and .901 SV% on the season. He has a decent matchup against a Red Wings team who have lost three straight - two via the shootout.

Jeff Zatkoff
Zatkoff will be between the pipes for the Penguins.

Despite a Marc-Andre Fleury shutout on Friday, the Penguins will turn to Zatkoff tonight. He will face the Panthers for the second time this season and the first one was not pretty. He gave up six goals on 30 shots in a 6-3 loss. Zatkoff will be hoping for a better result this time around.

Jeff Zatkoff
Zatkoff going for Pens Tonight. Fleury tomorrow in Montreal.

Zatkoff stopped all 19 shots he faced for his first career shutout on November 2. Even with the shutout he still has 3.36 GAA and .865 SV% in three starts. Tonight will be his second start against the Islanders, in the first he allowed four goals on 25 shots in a 4-3 loss.

Jeff Zatkoff
Zatkoff in goal for the Penguins.

Zatkoff allowed four goals on 25 shots in a loss to the Islanders on October 25. He has struggled posting a 5.06 GAA and .818 SV% through two starts. He has OK matchup vs. the Blue Jackets - however they threw 39 shots at Marc-Andre Fleury last night, so you might want to stay away from Zatkoff.

Jeff Zatkoff
Zatkoff first off the ice - he goes tonight vs. the Islanders.

The Penguins indicated earlier in the week that Zatkoff would start one of their back-to-back games. He gets the easier matchup vs. the Islanders, expect Fleury tomorrow vs. the Maple Leafs. Zatkoff struggled in his NHL debut, he allowed six goals on 30 shots against a mediocre Panthers team.

Jeff Zatkoff
The Penguins are about to enter a stretch of three games -- in three cities (and two countries) in four days -- so it's a pretty safe bet that backup Jeff Zatkoff will play in at least one of them.

The question is, will be it Friday at home against the New York Islanders, Saturday night in Toronto or Monday night in Raleigh, N.C? Whatever Bylsma decides, he is likely to hold his breath because Zatkoff was less-than-ordinary during his only NHL appearance to date, a 6-3 loss at Florida Oct 11 when he stopped 24 of 30 shots.

Jeff Zatkoff
Zatkoff will make his NHL debut vs. Panthers.

Zatkoff went 26-20-0 with a 1.93 GAA and .920 SV% with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. He has a great matchup vs. a Panthers team that is averaging just 1.75 goals per game. On a somewhat quiet night in the NHL, he could be a solid spot start.

Jeff Zatkoff
There's a strong chance Penguins backup goaltender Jeff Zatkoff will make his NHL debut tonight. Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma has hinted that the rookie would start tonight or Saturday at Tampa Bay.

This is no where near certain, but it would make more sense to have Zatkoff make his NHL debut against a bad Panthers team than Steven Stamkos and the Lightning.

Jeff Zatkoff