Hurricanes (23-18-6-52pts) @ Penguins (29-15-4-62pts)
The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the Consol Energy Center in game 49 of the season. Pittsburgh has two games remaining before the all star break.
The team will be without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin tonight. Malkin will miss his 2nd straight game while Crosby will miss his 8th straight. Crosby has yet to be cleared for dryland activies and won’t play before the all star break or participate in the all star game next weekend.
Here are some developments from today’s morning skate:
*Enforcer Eric Godard went through individual workouts for over 30 minutes this morning. Godard is recovering from a broken orbital bone and will be cleared to practice with the team following the weekend. I’m sure fans are excited about his return.
*Head coach Dan Bylsma is going with the same lines tonight for the Pens.
Morning Skate Rotation
Kunitz – Letestu – Dupuis
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Conner – Talbot – Rupp
Asham – Jeffrey – Adams
*Defensemen Ben Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland are alternating with Alex Goligoski on a regular basis as the third pair.
*Marc Andre Fleury will get the start in goal for Pittsburgh. Fleury is 20-5-2 in his last 27 starts.
*Jordan Staal will play a front net presence on the 1st power play unit tonight with Chris Kunitz sliding over to the right boards where Sidney Crosby is usually stationed.
Power Play Units
1st unit: Letestu – Staal – Kunitz
Letang – Goligoski
2nd Unit: Kennedy – Rupp – Jeffrey
Martin – Michalek