MORNING SKATE BUZZ

The Penguins two highest paid defensemen are missing from the morning skate. Defenseman Paul Martin who won’t play tonight, is not participating in the morning skate and Zbynek Michalek is also absent from the skate. Michalek yesterday was a full participant in practice and seemed fine afterwards.
The Penguins rotated seven defensemen this morning but the top pair tonight will include Brooks Orpik – Kris Letang playing together again. Simon Despres took a few rushes with Ben Lovejoy but also rotated with others. Despres is expected to play.
CROSBY BACK ON TOP UNIT
It took a James Neal suspension for Sidney Crosby to get back on the top unit. Crosby was back down low with Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, while Kris Letang and Steve Sullivan worked the points. Crosby said yesterday it was a mutual decision for him to be taking off top unit in games 2 and 3.
LINES
Kunitz – Malkin – Kennedy
Sullivan – Crosby – Dupuis
Tangradi – Staal – Cooke
Jeffrey – Vitale – Park

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