Penguins/NHL
Defenseman Brooks Orpik and goaltender Brent Johnson did not participate in the Penguins morning skate today in Calgary. Both players will miss their second straight game.
Orpik is sidelined with a lower body injury after being evaluated by team doctors on Monday. His status for the rest of the road trip is in doubt, although Orpik has re-joined the team and remains on the trip.
Meanwhile, Brent Johnson is sidelined with a groin injury. The injury is regarded as minor.
John Curry will serve as the teams backup for the second consecutive game.
Line Changes/ Caputi Out
*Max Talbot has been elevated to the 2nd line and will see time with Ruslan Fedotenko and Evgeni Malkin tonight.
Dan Bylsma has been questioned for the limited ice time he has been given Luca Caputi and there are strong indications that Caputi will be scratched tonight.
Caputi was the extra forward in today’s skate, while Eric Godard took a regular shift on the 4th line with Craig Adams and Michael Rupp. Barring a game-time decision not to play Eric Godard, Caputi will be the odd-man out.
A source on the scene tells me Caputi has been informed that he won’t be playing.
Meanwhile, Martin Skoula was the Penguins extra defenseman this morning. Another indication that Skoula will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game.
Team sources indicate Ben Lovejoy will be in the lineup and Alex Goligoski is in no danger of sitting.
Goligoski was paired with Sergei Gonchar this morning.
Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal.
