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The biggest injury situation for the Penguins to watch heading into Game 1 isn’t Evgeni Malkin.

It’s Ma[hide]tt Murray.

While the Penguins believe Murray will be good to go for Wednesday night, Murray is not 100% two sources close to the situation say and is dealing with a minor injury suffered from the Devils game where he is described as having some discomfort in his leg area.

A source called it nothing more than a “minor leg strain” and there’s not long-term concern, but if Murray’s not able to practice tomorrow, alarm bells will be going off.

The Penguins are off today.

While the Penguins internally are optimistic Murray will be fine after getting a couple days off the ice this past weekend to rest, the Penguins are not fully certain which is why Tristan Jarry will stick around for now as an extra body.

LINEUP DECISIONS LOOM AT FORWARD & ON THE BLUELINE

A good problem to have, the recent play of Carter Rowney and Josh Archibald has given Penguin coaches a good problem to have for Evgeni Malkin’s eventual return in Game 1.

The thinking is Carter Rowney will stay in the lineup as the coaching staff see’s Rowney as the better defensive player than Archibald who has some troubles in his own end without the puck in picking up the right man in the slot area when the Penguins are defending the cycle.

Although, there is an argument that Archibald should stay.

If Malkin returns Wednesday night and things are tracking that way, Rowney will be forced to play the wing and he’s a better center than winger.

With Carl Hagelin still out of the lineup, Archibald gives the Penguins that chaos dimension in hunting the puck they lack with Hagelin out.

On defense, what you see in Game 1 is what you might not see a few games down the road.

The Penguins can’t replace Kris Letang but they are eight deep on the blueline.

Brian Dumoulin, Trevor Daley, Ian Cole, Justin Schultz, Ron Hainsey, Chad Ruhwedel, Olli Maatta and Mark Streit.

Indications are Trevor Daley is believed to have moved into the top-5 with Dumoulin, Cole, Schultz and Hainsey among those who are regarded by the staff as locks. Where the coaching staff goes with the No. 6 guy for Game 1 is not known yet but Tuesday’s practice will likely give a good idea on which direction the coaches are going.

“We have some good ideas but the reality is we’ll need all of them,” Sullivan said after Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers. [/hide]

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