Penguins’ winger Pascal Dupuis did not practice with the team on Monday, and will not be making their trip to Montreal for Tuesday’s game against the Canadiens.
“He went to see a doctor [Monday] morning, and he won’t be making he trip in to Montreal,” said head coach Mike Johnston. “We’ll get an update on where he’s at in the next 24-48 hours.”
The nature of Dupuis’ ailment was not disclosed. He finished <a href=”http://www.pittsburghsportingnews.com/pens-get-reversal-two-points-against-rangers/”>Saturday’s game against the Rangers</a> will no apparent ill affects, including a shift in overtime. Blake Comeau replaced him on the Penguins’ top line.
Defenseman Olli Maatta, on the other hand, has a chance to play on Tuesday as he continues to recover from surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his thyroid gland. Maatta was supposed to miss four weeks after the surgery, but is close to returning just two weeks later.
“I want to hear the he’s sharp, that he’s feeling good,” Coach Johnston said after Maatta’s participation in the full-contact practice. “I’ll talk to him and he’ll still be a game-time decision tomorrow.”
Forward Zach Sill, the lone healthy scratch on Tuesday, will suit up on the fourth line and take Dupuis’ spot in the lineup. It is unknown which defenseman would sit if Maatta returns. Robert Bortuzzo has a goal, two assists, seven penalty minutes, and is a plus-2 in the six games that he’s played in Maatta’s absence. Rob Scuderi and Simon Despres would be the other candidates to sit out.
Should a forward need to be called up to replace Dupuis, Jayson Megna made a case for himself Sunday. Megna scored both goals and was a plus-2 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 3-2 loss at Hershey.
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Also missing part of practice was defenseman Kris Letang. Letang was cut by a stick in a drill, but received one or two stitches and should be fine, according to Johnston.
Photo credit: NHL
