On the heels of a 6-4 win Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins returned to the ice this morning as the team prepares for Thursday’s showdown with the Washington Capitals.
Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury (fractured finger) did not practice this morning, however, he may be available to suit up tomorrow night.div>

Meanwhile, Pascal Dupuis (facial injury) and Max Talbot (foot) did not practice. Talbot was being evaluated this morning by team doctors. Will have an update on both players in a bit.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar was also missing from practice today. I was told that he was just given a day off and he is feeling under the weather, however, Dan Bylsma said Gonchar is day-to-day.
Indications are the Gonchar has a nagging foot injury that is bothering him. He is questionable for tomorrow night’s game.
12:10 p.m. Notes
Pittsburgh went through a 60 minute + workout today.
Today’s practice had a focus on D-zone coverage. A team source tells me management doesn’t believe the Penguins woes in the D-zone is personnel but more of a lack of focus from the forwards and defensemen.
However, that’s hard to buy considering all of the talk that the team is looking to upgrade their blueline.
Dan Bylsma is going to be stressing more of a commitment to D-zone coverage.

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With 10 forwards participating in today’s practices the lines are as follows
Rupp – Crosby – Guerin
Fedotenko – Malkin – Adams
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Godard
The D-Pairings: Skoula – Orpik, Eaton – Letang, and McKee – Goligoski
*As expected former Penguins winger Petr Sykora has cleared waivers. It’s believed the Wild and Sykora have an agreement in place that will make Sykora a free agent.
*The St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are among 6-to-8 teams scheduled to have scouts in attedance for Thursday night’s game against Washington.

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailWednesday Practice Report: Talbot (shoulder) being re-evaluated; Gonchar to return Thursday night; Default ThumbnailMonday Practice Report: Gonchar will likely miss third straight game; Bylsma sending message to Kunitz? Default ThumbnailWednesday Practice Report: Max Talbot, Billy Guerin (non-contact) practicing; Goligoski, Godard, Kennedy not practicing Default ThumbnailWednesday practice report: Malkin misses practice; Kunitz won’t play in home finale