Penguins/NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins (29-18-4, 62 pts) @ Boston Bruins (32-15-2, 66 pts)
The Cal O’Reilly trial run begins afternoon against the Boston Bruins. O’Reilly claimed off re-entry waivers this week, centered the Penguins second line in Friday’s practice and O’Reilly will remain in that spot today in his Penguins debut.
O’Reilly will have Steve Sullivan who he’s played with in the past on his left side and Tyler Kennedy at right wing. “Today we played him on a line with Steve Sullivan and Tyler Kennedy, which is a little bit more of an offensive looking line, ” head coach Dan Bylsma said on Friday following practice.
It’s a smallish line that provides speed and some skill upfront. O’Reilly is a pass first player who won’t be putting a lot of shots on net.
“When you come to a team like this that has this depth and they want some more depth so they get you, that’s good for your confidence, ” O’Reilly said.
Re-entry waiver claims like O’Reilly are often over-rated from the getgo but O’Reilly was a low risk move with just a cap hit of around $138,000 and he is expected to get a look in scoring line situations and possible second power play unit time for the next handful of games and the team will go from there.
Today’s goaltending matchup will have Marc Andre Fleury against Tim Thomas.
Updated 12:30 p.m. – Defenseman Deryk Engelland will return to the lineup, a team source says.
Penguins Lines
Kunitz – Malkin – Neal
Sullivan – O’Reilly – Kennedy
Cooke – Jeffrey – Dupuis
Park – Vitale – Adams
Bruins Lines
Lucic – Krejci – Peverley
Marchand – Bergeron – Sequin
Pouliot – Kelly – Caron
Paille – Campbell – Thornton
NOTES: The Penguins are starting a three game road trip while the Bruins are concluding a three game homestand today…..Bruins forward Nathan Horton will miss his fourth straight game due to a concussion….. Jordan Staal (MCL) and Sidney Crosby (neck) traveled with the team to Boston and both skated this morning. Staal is expected to be cleared to practice by late next week at the latest…..Penguins RW Arron Asham will miss his 8th straight game due to a concussion…..
