Post-Morning Skate: Bylsma comments; Orpik to play; players talk Challenge of PHX

POST-MORNING SKATE UPDATE

**Defenseman Brooks Orpik did not participate in the morning skate but will be in the lineup tonight. Orpik was stuck in an accident on the parkaway this morning, which prompted his ability to make the skate.

According to Bylsma, Orpik was the 5th or so car behind the accident and alerted other players not to go on the parkway. Orpik has arrived at the facility and is going through film studies, ect.

**Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin appeared on the PRICE IS RIGHT today along with Jeremy Roenick.

Crosby said today he taped the PRICE IS RIGHT in September during an NHL media tour via video. He said he never appeared on stage or anything to that extent.

Following the morning skate, the show was in the locker room and players were cracking up.

**The sense over the past two days is that the players came away impressed with the Coyotes during their matchup earlier in the season.

Chris Kunitz told me the Penguins have a big challenge ahead of themselves tonight if they want to snap their losing streak. What I’ve heard a lot from the players is how active the Coyotes defensemen are and how the Coyotes are a dangerous team on the rush. Dan Bylsma echoed the same sentiments this morning.

With Western Conference teams that the Penguins don’t see much, Kunitz told me on Sunday that the coaches usually put extra time into film study but nothing really changes on the players end.

**Despite putting all of his {Marc Andre Fleury} early struggles to bed, head coach Dan Bylsma continues to get questions from the media on whether he’s surprised at how well Marc Andre Fleury’s playing now.

Bylsma admitted that he was surprised that Fleury struggled early in the season, especially considering the strong pre-season he had but Fleury’s play over the past month is not a surprise by any means to Bylsma.

PENS LINEUP

Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis

Cooke – Malkin – Talbot

Conner – Letestu – Kennedy

Rupp – Adams – Asham

DEFENSEMEN

Orpik – Letang

Martin – Michalek

Goligoski – Engelland

Marc Andre Fleury in goal

PLAYER TO WATCH: Evgeni Malkin

*3 goals in his last 2 games and Malkin has that jump in his legs, that I haven’t seen in a while.