Penguins/NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins (27-17-1) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (15-21-9)
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar (foot) is participating in the Penguins morning skate as the Penguins begin a five game road trip in Toronto tonight.
Gonchar has missed the last four games and is a good bet to return to the lineup tonight.
Meanwhile, Ruslan Fedotenko (ankle) is also skating. Fedotenko was held out of Thursday’s game. Fedotenko is optmistic that he will be cleared to play. Fedotenko skated on a line with Luca Caputi and Evgeni Malkin this morning.
*Defenseman Martin Skoula who played under 5 minutes against the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night, is participating in today’s skate. Skoula was believed to have been benched by the coaching staff after being on the ice for two quick goals.
More Pre-game Buzz
Leafs Lineup
Forwards
Ponikarovsky-Stajan-Kulemin
Stalberg-Wallin-Kessel
Blake-Mitchell-Stempniak
Orr-Mayers-Hagman
Defensemen
Beauchemin-White
Kaberle-Schenn
Exelby-Finger
Scratches: : Gunnarson, Komisarek (injury)
Goaltenders
Vesa Toskala (6-9-2) is expected to start in goal, despite
Penguins Lines at Morning Skate
Forwards
Dupuis – Crosby – Guerin
Caputi – Malkin – Fedotenko
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Talbot/Godard
Defensemen
Orpik – Gonchar
Eaton – Letang
McKee – Goliogoski
Extra: Skoula
Key Stats
*Forward Sidney Crosby is a minus-5 in his last 9 games.
*Forward Evgeni Malkin has 3 goals in his last 11 games.
*Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury is 1-6 in his last 7 games with a 4.48 GAA.
*Pittsburgh has the 30th ranked power play at 14.7%
Leafs forward Phil Kessel has one goal in his last 11 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs (68.4%) have the worst penalty kill unit in the league.
