Penguins – Senators Game 2 Lineup Buzz

Kris Letang and Craig Adams were both absent from today’s morning skate and unlike Senators head coach Paul MacLean, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma won’t provide any updates on players.”The people on the ice this morning and our injuries are a non-discussion,” Bylsma said.

That said, Letang was fine in Thursday’s practice and there is a sense around the team that he will be able to play tonight.

Letang deals with migranes which could have been the reason for his absence this morning.

If Letang does not play, Mark Eaton will re-enter the lineup and be paired with Matt Niskanen.

Jussi Jokinen a healthy scratch the last three games, filled in for Adams on the 4th line. If Adams is a no go, Jokinen will be in the lineup, seeing time on the 4th line and 2nd power play time.

If Letang and Adams both play, the Penguins will be using the same lineup as Game 1.

The Penguins plan to use Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Pascal Dupuis together on the top line.

In goal Tomas Vokoun makes his fourth straight start in goal.

PENGUINS MORNING SKATE LINES & D-PAIRS

Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Pascal Dupuis

James Neal – Evgeni Malkin – Jarome Iginla

Brenden Morrow – Brandon Sutter – Matt Cooke

Jussi Jokinen – Joe Vitale – Tyler Kennedy

DEFENSEMEN

Brooks Orpik – Paul Martin

Mark Eaton – Matt Niskanen

Douglas Murray – Deryk Engelland

SENATORS LINEUP NEWS

Senators coach Paul MacLean comfirmed that defenseman Eric Gryba will miss tonight’s game due to an upper body injury. Gryba took a hard hit from Brooks Orpik in Game 1. 29 year old defenseman Andre Benoit will come into the lineup for Gryba.

The Senators will lose some size and toughness with Gryba out. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Benoit had 3 goals and 7 assists in 33 games for the Senators.

Upfront, the Senators will scratch 4th liner Matt Kassian and dress Guillaume Latendresse as MacLean looks for a little more skill in his lineup.

Latendresse had 6 goals and 10 points in 27 games this season. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound winger scored 25 goals for the Minnesota Wild in 2009-2010.

Meanwhile, there continues to be growing optimism that the Senators will get star center Jason Spezza back in the lineup for Game 3.

“We will see him Saturday and we’ll go through Saturday’s practice and the pre-game skate for Sunday and we’ll see where it is,” MacLean said. “But if he’s available to us, you know it’s Jason Spezza. We’re going to have him in the lineup if he’s available.”