Pens-Thrashers Morning Skate Updates: Line Combos, PP units, Notes
Morning Skate Report 10:15 a.m. – The Penguins are begining to hit the ice for their 10:30 a.m. morning skate. Evgeni Malkin jumped on the ice about 15 minutes ago skating around in shorts. He has now joined his teammates in full gear. He appeared to be working out a new stick or skates. 10:32 a.m. – Here’s how the lines have shaken out in the morning skate Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis
Pens-Hawks: Hutchinson looking to showcase himself tonight
Hutchinson feels he can be a puck-moving presence Head coach Dan Bylsma said this week that he’s looking for his No. 6 defenseman to be particularly good in one specific area. Of the three NHL defensemen still in the mix, Ben Lovejoy, Deryk Engelland, Andrew Hutchinson all bring different attributes to the table. Lovejoy brings an all around type of game, Engelland is a tough rugged physical presence and Hutchinson is a puck-moving presence. Considered a longshot, Hutchinson has caught the eye of team officials in camp and will be in the spotlight tonight working in as the top pair with Paul Martin. I spoke with Hutchinson after practice about heading into the big weekend and about what he brings
Pens @ Hawks Lineups: Crosby out with hip flexor
Updated 10:50 a.m.: Crosby to miss tonight’s game Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will sit out tonight’s game due to a hip flexor. Crosby left practice early and skated for about 10 minutes. Crosby continues to battle through nagging lower body injuries thus far in camp but will travel with the team, according to head coach Dan Bylsma. Dustin Jeffrey will take Crosby’s place in the lineup and center Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis. Jeffrey was initially expected to sit out tonight’s game. Updated Lineup Kunitz – Jeffrey – Dupuis Cooke – Talbot – Asham Tangradi – Letestu – Kennedy Rupp – Adams – Godard Defensemen Martin – Hutchinson Despres – Lovejoy Goligoski – Engelland *Marc Andre Fleury will start
On Asham, Goligoski ….and more thoughts from Tuesday’s skate
Tuesday’s Camp Buzz *I spoke today with Arron Asham regarding the move from Peter Laviolette’s puck moving system into Dan Bylsma’s uptempo offensive system with Pittsburgh. Both coach similar type of styles which has helped Asham in the early going but adjustments are still needed in certain areas Asham told me today. “It’s been coming to me pretty easily, Asham told Inside Pittsburgh Sports. Despite somewhat of an easy transition, two areas of Bylsma’s system Asham told me he is still adjusting to is on the forecheck and his placement in the neutral zone.
Morning Skate: Notes from Dan Bylsma
Pre-game Notes: *Bylsma said today that every veteran is playing in four exhibition games which is why Sidney Crosby will sit tonight. Against Detroit and Chicago later this week, Bylsma wants to field a more complete lineup that will resemble the Penguins opening night lineup against Philadelphia on October 7. *Bylsma praised Paul Martin’s poise in “all situations, ” calling the veteran defenseman a very intelligent player who is a “all around type of player.” Bylsma talked at length today about top prospect Simon Despres who will appear in his second straight game.
Hawks @ Pens Lineup: Malkin, Tangradi among those to play
Tonight’s Lineup Forwards: Eric Tangradi, Dustin Jeffrey, Brett Sterling, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, Max Talbot, Mike Rupp, Arron Asham, Craig Adams, Nick Johnson, Mike Comrie, Mark Letestu Defensemen: Simon Despres, Alex Goligoski, Paul Martin, Deryk Engelland, Ben Lovejoy, Zbynek Michalek, Steve Wagner. Lines Kunitz – Letestu – Sterling Tangradi – Comrie – Malkin Rupp – Jeffrey – Adams Asham – Talbot – Johnson D-Pairs Martin – Michalek Goligoski – Lovejoy Engelland – Despres Extra: Steve Wagner *Brent Johnson is expected to start in goal Power Play Unit 1 Kunitz – Comrie – Malkin Letestu – Goligoski Power Play Unit 2 Tangradi – Jeffrey – Sterling Martin – Michalek Notes: Half way through both groups worked 5-on-3’s and changes were made
Pens expected to make 12 cuts by Wednesday morning
The Penguins roster currently sits at 41 and a team contact tells me that the roster will be reduced by 12 players to 29. The cuts will be made by Wednesday and members of the front office are expected to conduct meetings this afternoon.
Pre-game Notes: RedWings @ Penguins
Pre-season Game 1 The Pittsburgh Penguins open up the Consol Energy Center tonight against the Detroit Red Wings in the team’s preseason opener. Regulars including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Brooks Orpik and Marc Andre Fleury will all be playing but tonight will be about opportunities for players vying to make the roster. The Penguins will have a shakeup on their top line tonight and Tyler Kennedy begins his battle to get back into the top-12.
Penguins not looking ahead as they look to close out the series tonight
Pittsburgh leads series, 3-0 The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins each went through their final preparations this morning for game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Pittsburgh was loose and looked like a team that is up 3-0 in a series. Based on what we’re hearing and the rotation of seven defensemen during the morning skate, Philippe Boucher will be in the lineup tonight and the Penguins will dress seven defensemen for the seventh consecutive game. Pittsburgh has won 5 of six games when dressing seven defensemen in the playoffs. If Pittsburgh wins tonight they will become the first team since the 1984 Edmonton Oilers to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, the year after losing in the finals. Carolina
Game 2 Morning Skate update: Eric Cole to play; Ruutu out for tonight’s game
Morning Skate Updates Pittsburgh The Penguins just concluded their morning skate as the team prepares for game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The top four lines were the same with Pascal Dupuis working in with Craig Adams and Miroslav Satan. Head Coach Dan Bylsma will make a game time decision on whether he will dress seven defensemen tonight. Sergei Gonchar is nearing full health and played just under 22 minutes in game 1. That will go into Dan Bylsma’s thinking. Carolina Hurricanes The Hurricanes just took the ice and Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Cole is skating and it appears he will give it a go for tonight’s game. Cole is skating with Matt Cullen and Chad Larose. I’m told that