Penguins/NHL
Updated 10:50 a.m.: Crosby to miss tonight’s game
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will sit out tonight’s game due to a hip flexor. Crosby left practice early and skated for about 10 minutes.
Crosby continues to battle through nagging lower body injuries thus far in camp but will travel with the team, according to head coach Dan Bylsma.
Dustin Jeffrey will take Crosby’s place in the lineup and center Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis. Jeffrey was initially expected to sit out tonight’s game.
Updated Lineup
Kunitz – Jeffrey – Dupuis
Cooke – Talbot – Asham
Tangradi – Letestu – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Godard
Defensemen
Martin – Hutchinson
Despres – Lovejoy
Goligoski – Engelland
*Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal
Scratches: Mike Comrie, Sidney Crosby (hip), Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Craig (groin), Brooks Orpik, Zbynek Michalek,and Ben Lovejoy.
From Earlier (10:15 a.m.)
Three key players in roster battles will be in the lineup tonight as Eric Tangradi, Simon Despres and Tyler Kennedy will all play.
Dustin Jeffrey who has appeared in three games and skated on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Mike Comrie on Thursday, will not play. Malkin and Comrie will also not play.
Forwards: Sidney Crosby, Matt Cooke, Max Talbot, Arron Asham, Eric Godard, Eric Tangradi, Tyler Kennedy, Pascal Dupuis, Mark Letestu, Chris Kunitz, Mike Rupp, Craig Adams:
Defensemen: Paul Martin, Kris Letang, Simon Despres, Alex Goligoski, Deryk Engelland, and Andrew Hutchinson
Marc Andre Fleury is expected to start in goal.
Notes
The lines the Penguins started practice with didn’t necessarily match up with their game lineup.
As for the D-pairs, looks like Simon Despres will play with Kris Letang and Andrew Hutchinson will play with Paul Martin. This is a big weekend for both players.
Lines that opened practice
Comrie – Crosby – Malkin
Kunitz – Jeffrey – Dupuis
Cooke – Talbot – Asham
Tangradi – Letestu – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Godard
Notes: Of the group playing, Sidney Crosby will slide into Jeffrey’s practice spot today in tonight’s game. The rest of the lines is what the Penguins will likely go with based on the past couple practices.
Forward Scratches: Comrie, Craig, Malkin, Jeffrey.
D-Pairs
Martin – Hutchinson/Lovejoy
Despres – Letang
Goligoski – Engelland
*Brooks Orpik, Zbynek Michalek and Ben Lovejoy will all not play tonight.
Power Play Units
1st unit: Letestu – Tangradi – Kunitz
Letang – Goligoski at the points
