Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota Wild
8:00 p.m. Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
TV: Root Sports Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 the X and the Penguins Radio Network
Projected Penguins lineup:
14 Chris Kunitz 13 Nick Spaling 9 Pascal Dupuis
72 Patric Hornqvist 25 Andrew Ebbett 42 Kasperi Kapanen
17 Blake Comeau 38 Zach Sill 23 Steve Downie
12 Daniel Carcillo 49 Oskar Sundqvist 27 Craig Adams
10 Christian Ehrhoff 58 Kris Letang 1 Thomas Greiss
7 Paul Martin 47 Simon Despres 37 Jeff Zatkoff
6 Scott Harrington 8 Brian Dumoulin
44 Taylor Chorney
The Penguins training camp roster has a very different look this week as the team turns into the home stretch of the preseason slate. Injuries to key players continue to hamper the team, but the General Manager Jim Rutherford and the coaching staff must continue to evaluate the talent that is available to play and plan for every contingency.
WHO’S IN:
Pascal Dupuis will play on his surgically reconstructed knee for the first time tonight. Dupuis has been on the shelf since a collision with Sidney Crosby in a game against the Ottawa Senators last December tore the ACL in his right knee.
Coach Mike Johnston said that he plans to watch Dupuis’ ice time, but that he can be expected to contribute on the penalty kill.
Chris Kunitz has recovered from his injury and played his first preseason game against Columbus on Saturday. He played for 19:11 without recording a point. He’ll play again tonight as he tries to get back into game shape.
Daniel Carcillo has also recovered from his foot injury and will make his preseason debut this evening. Carcillo is the only player in camp without a contract, and he’ll only have two games to try to make an impression.
Thomas Greiss and Jeff Zatkoff will both play tonight as they continue their battle for the backup goaltender spot. Greiss will start and Zatkoff will relieve him midway through the second period.
WHO’S OUT:
Winger Beau Bennett was injured in a collision with Kasperi Kapanen in practice on Friday and will be out for six weeks. He is not expected to require surgery. Bennett’s injury creates a gaping hole in the Penguins’ top six. Ironically, Kapanen may be the player best suited to step into the role.
Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo was injured in the third period of Thursday’s game against Minnesota. He will be sidelined for about a month. The team has not disclosed the nature of his injury. It’s looking like Scott Harrington and Brian Dumoulin will have the best chance of replacing Bortuzzo on the roster.
Jayson Megna, Reid McNeill, and Dominic Uher were re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Saturday. Megna, who played 36 games for Pittsburgh last season, was a prime candidate for a winger position on the fourth line. Philip Samuelsson and Pierre-Luc Letrourneau-Leblond were placed on waivers this morning, and could join them in Wilkes-Barre if they clear. Leblond was the only heavyweight enforcer in camp. Samuelsson was competing for the seventh defenseman spot.
STILL OUT:
Sidney Crosby has been medically cleared to play, but missed Saturday and won’t play again tonight due to the death of his grandmother. Crosby should play in the preseason finale Wednesday in Detroit.
Evgeni Malkin still has yet to practice, and is not scheduled to do so. At the point, it has become evident that his injury is more serious than initially believed. His status for the beginning of the season is very much in question.
Olli Maatta also has not yet practiced, but is scheduled to work out Wednesday in advance of the game against the Red Wings. Should he be medically cleared beforehand, he could play in that game. It’s looking like Maatta will be ready sometime in the next few weeks, possibly even in time for the season opener October 9 against Anaheim.
Rookie defenseman Derrick Pouliot has started skating with the AHL team in Wilkes-Barre. He is still three weeks or so from being cleared for contact, and he will undoubtedly join the AHL Penguins to begin his professional career.
