Off-day Report
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins arrived in Montreal this afternoon as the team looks to close out the series Monday night in game 6. The Penguins did not skate today but a few players including Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot had a short media session after the team arrived in Montreal.
  • Barring an unexpected injury to pop up Monday morning, it’s difficult to imagine Alexei Ponikarovsky or Ruslan Fedotenko finding a way back in the lineup for game 6. Fedotenko, Conner, Godard and Ponikarovsky were among the extra forwards that have traveled with the team.
  • The Penguins have opted against taking all off their playoff roster players on road trips this post-season.
  • For Montreal it was an off-day of good and bad news.
  • Defenseman Hal Gill is day-to-day with a laceration to his leg. Gill is hopeful to play and is likely to go into game 6 as a game time decision. Gill will try to get through the morning skate on Monday and go from there.
  • Defenseman Andrei Markov (knee) is believed to be progressing but likely not quick enough to play tomorrow night. According to CBC’s Elliott Freidman, the Canadiens are trying to find a brace for Markov’s knee that would allow him to play. Markov skated today but Habs officials don’t appear optmistic that the teams No. 1 defenseman will be able to suit up for game 6.
  • Meanwhile, there’s a strong chance that defenseman Jaroslav Spacek will make his series debut in game 6.