Practice Notes: No Asham, Michalek or Malkin; Pre Pens-Capitals Tidbits

PITTSBURGH -- On the heels of last night's 3-2 win, the Penguins are back on the ice this morning for their final workout before the team departs for Washington D.C., this afternoon.

On the injury front, as expected, no Arron Asham (shoulder) or Evgeni Malkin (knee) this morning. There has been no word from the team if there will be an update today on the extent of Malkin's injury.

Malkin was scheduled to have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

Also not practicing is defenseman Zbynek Michalek.

The Penguins lines this morning are:

Kunitz - Jeffrey - Dupuis

Cooke - Staal - Kennedy

Rupp - Talbot - Conner

Tangradi - Adams - Godard

Defensemen

Orpik-Letang

Martin - Lovejoy

Goligoski - Engelland

-- Pittsburgh (34-15-4, 72pts) is 8-3-1 without Sidney Crosby and have now won 8 of 9 games as the team heads into Sunday's matchup with the Washington Capitals (28-15-10, 66pts).

I know I've repeated this several times of late but Pittsburgh's ability to defend and Marc Andre Fleury no longer being susceptible to that momentum killer goal has Pittsburgh not only maintaining without Sidney Crosby, but keeping them right in the mix with Philadelphia for the conference lead.

-- What stood out to me from last night's win against Buffalo was Pittsburgh's ability to wear the Sabres down in the physical department.