Penguins/NHL
Crosby improving
Southpointe, PA — In some circles the Penguins training camp was regarded as a bit “laid back”. In preparation for the New York Rangers tomorrow night, head coach Dan Bylsma put the Penguins through a high intensity/ up-tempo practice Thursday morning. It might have been the Penguins best practice thus far in training camp.
* Tyler Kennedy and Evgeni Malkin played very well together in training camp and in the pre-season.
But, Pascal Dupuis skated with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko for the second consecutive practice and will open up the season on the second line.
Despite Dupuis opening the season on Malkin’s line, don’t expect him to be skating alongside Malkin for a significant period of time.
*Newly acquired winger Chris Bourque participated in his first practice in a Penguins uniform. Bourque skated on the
4th line with Michael Rupp and Craig Adams. Bourque and Godard rotated throughout the drills.
What Pittsburgh likes about Bourque is his speed to play in Dan Bylsma’s system. He has the grit and skill set to play a third line role and within the next couple weeks, he will get a look with Jordan Staal.
Bourque is not expected to play tomorrow but the word around the locker today was that he will be in the lineup Saturday night against the Islanders.
*Sidney Crosby had his best practice of the week today. He’s skating much harder than he was two-days ago.
Top Two Power Play Units to Open the Season
1st: Guerin – Malkin – Crosby
Letang – Gonchar
2nd: Fedotenko – Staal – Kunitz
Eaton – Goligoski
5-on-3 1st unit
Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
Gonchar – Malkin
