Penguins/NHL
MORNING PENS BUZZ
PITTSBURGH — Defenseman Kris Letang will miss his second straight game tonight vs the Phoenix Coyotes and it’s Brian Strait not Simon Despres who gets the callup from Wilkes Barre due to Letang’s absence and possibility of Deryk Engelland being out of the lineup tonight.
Engelland is not participating the morning skate.
Meanwhile, winger Tyler Kennedy is under strong consideration to return to the lineup tonight.
Kennedy is a regular on the third line with Matt Cooke and Joe Vitale. Kennedy’s likely return to the lineup is expected to push Eric Tangradi out of the lineup. Kennedy also saw time on the 1st power play unit.
LINES
Kunitz – Malkin – Neal
Sullivan – Staal – Dupuis
Cooke – Vitale – Kennedy
Asham – Adams – Park
Extra: Tangradi
Notes: Dustin Jeffrey who has been a regular scratch of late, is not participating in the skate…….Brad Thiessen will suit up for the 5th straight game….Sidney Crosby is not participating in the skate but went through on-ice individual drills prior to the morning skate.
11:35 am Post-Morning Skate Update
*Head coach Dan Bylsma called Tyler Kennedy a game time decision. However, look for Kennedy to play and Tangradi coming out of the lineup.
*Defenseman Deryk Engelland won’t play tonight due to a lower body injury. Brian Strait will play and is expected to be paired with Ben Lovejoy
*Bylsma said there is no update on Kris Letang who is being evaluated by team doctors
*Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal
*Dustin Jeffrey is ill
