Canes @ Pens Morning Skate Updates: No changes expected to lineup

Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal did some light skating this morning about an hour before the Penguins took the ice this morning. Staal went through individual drills with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar.

I was running a little late this morning and didn’t get to catch Staal’s brief skate but Rob Rossi writes on his Chipped Ice blog that Staal’s surgically-repaired right hand was heavily wrapped and Staal was not wearing a glove.

There has been no setbacks for Staal to this point and his rehab is on schedule. Staal is projected to return to the lineup at somepoint in mid December.

10:30 a.m. – Here’s a look at tonight’s lineup

Pittsburgh will go with their same lineup tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes. Marc Andre Fleury will get the start in goal.

Mike Comrie and Eric Godard were the extra forwards this morning once again as Ben Lovejoy centered both players on the so called 5th line

Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis

Cooke – Malkin – Asham

Conner – Letestu – Kennedy

Rupp – Talbot – Adams

Defensemen

Orpik – Letang

Martin – Michalek

Goligoski – Engelland

Starting Goaltender: Marc Andre Fleury

Extra’s: Comrie – Lovejoy – Godard

10:43 a.m. – Martin to stay with top power play unit

Paul Martin will remain on the top power play unit tonight. The first unit will consist of Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin down low with Kris Letang at the left point and Martin at the right point.

One reason for Martin getting an extended look on the top unit has to due with his passing ability I’m told. The Penguins have not been pleased with Alex Goligoski’s distribution ability on setting up the likes of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby for one timers.

The Penguins are 25th in the NHL on the man advantage, clicking at 12.8%.

The second unit will consist of Tyler Kennedy, Chris Conner (rover) and Mark Letestu down low with Zbynek Michalek at the left point and Alex Goligoski at the right point.