Game 4: Guerin skates, out for game 5; Staal a game time decision

Game 4: Morning skate buzz

Updated: 12:50 p.m. – Dan Bylsma has called Jordan Staal a game time decision for tonight. Staal skated on the 5th line in the morning skate, an indication he likely won’t play but did take reps with the second power play unit. Bylsma’s use of Staal has prompted mixed signals on his availability for tonight but the fourth year center has progressed tremendously since Tuesday morning skate and is clearly close to returning.

While there are still some doubts that Staal will play tonight, he appears to be a good bet to return Saturday night for game 5.

Meanwhile, Bill Guerin will not play due to an elbow injury. Guerin will miss his second consecutive game.

Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis

Ponikarovsky – Malkin – Talbot

Cooke – Letestu – Kennedy

Rupp – Adams – Fedotneko

*Jordan Staal game time decision

Defensemen

Orpik – Gonchar

Eaton – Letang

Leopold – Goligoski

Updated: 12:15 p.m. – For the second straight morning skate, the Penguins spent a good portion of the skate working on their power play. To the surprise of many, Jordan Staal worked with the second power play unit, a sign that he has not been ruled out for tonight.

1st power play unit: Kunitz – Crosby – Malkin

Letang – Gonchar

2nd power play unit: Ponikarovsky – Cooke – Staal

Leopold – Goligoski

11:55 a.m. – According to a source on the scene, Bill Guerin (elbow) participated in today’s morning skate but he did not begin the skate on his normal first line. Guerin though was slowly worked in the top-4 and took a shift here and there with the 1st line but for the most part was among the extra forwards. An indication that he won’t play.

Guerin though looked sharp in the skate per the source.

Jordan Staal is skating for the third straight day and continues to progress for a return to game action within the next week. In what is remarkable, a return for this series has not been ruled out and there’s even talk this morning that Staal will play Saturday night when the Penguins return home for game 5.

1st: Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis/ Guerin

2nd: Ponikarovsky – Malkin – Talbot

3rd: Cooke – Letestu – Kennedy

4th: Rupp – Adams – Fedotenko

5th: Conner – Staal – Guerin/Godard