Penguins/NHL
PRE-GAME BUZZ
PENGUINS (3-2-0, 6 PTS) @ RED WINGS (3-1-2, 8 PTS)
The Penguins coming off a 5-3 loss to the Flyers last night, are likely to have some lineup changes tonight.
Thomas Greiss is expected to make his first start in a Penguins uniform, while Marc Andre Fleury get the night off, though, Mike Johnston wouldn’t commit to starting Greiss vs Detroit when speaking to reporters yesterday.
Johnston meets with the media today in Detroit at 5:30 p.m.
On the backend, Scott Harrington traveled with the team and tonight is an ideal situation to get him in the lineup for the first time this season before he gets sent back to the minors with Robert Bortuzzo ready to return.
Upfront, sitting Zach Sill could be a possibility tonight. Sill has provided energy and a physical presence but the Penguins are still not getting enough offensive chances from their fourth line. Sill has no shots on goal through five games and just 3 attempted shots on the season.
Craig Adams has just 2 shots and 3 attempted shots on the season. Adams continues to be relied on heavily on the penalty kill, second among forwards in shorthanded ice time last night and leads all Penguins forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (3:12) on the season.
Zach Sill hasn’t played special teams to this point and it’s unlikely Adams would sit for Andrew Ebbett who is worth a look to provide more offense 5 v 5.
The Red Wings got Pavel Datsyuk back this week who will play on a line with Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg leads the Red Wings in points with 2 goals and 7 points. The Red Wings have some of their top players performing early on with Gustav Nyquist collecting 4 goals in his first six games.
A key for them has been Jimmy Howard (2-1-2, 1.77 GAA, .937 sv%) looking the like the goaltender he was during the lockout shortened season.
