Off-day report: Gill day-to-day; Spacek hopeful to play

Off-day Report

The Pittsburgh Penguins arrived in Montreal this afternoon as the team looks to close out the series Monday night in game 6. The Penguins did not skate today but a few players including Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot had a short media session after the team arrived in Montreal.
Barring an unexpected injury to pop up Monday morning, it’s difficult to imagine Alexei Ponikarovsky or Ruslan Fedotenko finding a way back in the lineup for game 6. Fedotenko, Conner, Godard and Ponikarovsky were among the extra forwards that have traveled with the team.
The Penguins have opted against taking all off their playoff roster players on road trips this post-season.
For Montreal it was an off-day of good and bad news.
Defenseman Hal Gill is day-to-day with a laceration to his leg. Gill is hopeful to play and is likely to go into game 6 as a game time decision. Gill will try to get through the morning skate on Monday and go from there.
Defenseman Andrei Markov (knee) is believed to be progressing but likely not quick enough to play tomorrow night. According to CBC’s Elliott Freidman, the Canadiens are trying to find a brace for Markov’s knee that would allow him to play. Markov skated today but Habs officials don’t appear optmistic that the teams No. 1 defenseman will be able to suit up for game 6.
Meanwhile, there’s a strong chance that defenseman Jaroslav Spacek will make his series debut in game 6.

Pittsburgh Penguins