Penguins/NHL
Game 2 Pre-game buzz
The Pittsburgh Penguins will make one lineup change upfront as winger Michael Rupp will make his Penguins playoff debut tonight. Rupp was a healthy scratch in game 1. In Thursday’s practice, Ruslan Fedotenko was bumped to the 5th line.
Pascal Dupuis skated on the second line this morning with Alexei Ponikarovsky and Evgeni Malkin for the second straight day.
Barring a flare up in Chris Kunitz bum shoulder, Fedotenko will likely be a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
However, I’m told that there was some talk going around this morning that Tyler Kennedy’s spot in the lineup tonight is not set in stone and that Kennedy is the other candidate to sit tonight with Rupp returning to the lineup.
Bylsma showed last post-season to play some “games” with his lines in morning skates.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson did not participate in the Penguins morning skate. Johnson remains ill with the flu and his status for tonight’s game is in doubt.
Thursday afternoon the team recalled Brad Thiessen from Wilkes Barre/Scranton. Thiessen did participate in today’s skate.
Thiessen 24, completed his first season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, playing in 30 games with a 14-14-1 record. The 6-foot, 180-pound netminder led the team in goals-against average (2.45), save percentage (.914) and shutouts (4).
Thiessen made his AHL playoff debut Wednesday night, making 34 saves in a 4-3 loss to the Albany River Rats.
Tonight’s Projected Lineup
Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
Ponikarovsky – Malkin – Dupuis
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Talbot
Defensemen
Orpik – Gonchar
Eaton – Letang
Goligoski – Leopold
Goaltenders
1. Marc Andre Fleury
2. Brad Thiessen
Senators Lineup
Regin – Spezza – Alfredsson
Cullen – Fisher – Foligno
Ruutu – Kelly – Neil
Shannon – Smith – Winchester
Defensemen
Phillips – Volchenkov
Sutton – Karlsson
Campoli – Carkner
Goaltenders
1. Brian Elliott
2. Pascal Leclaire
