Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets
7:00 PM, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: Jackets TV (Will only works for fans in Columbus broadcast market)
Radio: 105.9 The X and the Penguins Radio Network
Projected Penguins Lineup:
42 Kasperi Kapanen 57 Marcel Goc 23 Steve Downie
63 Conor Sheary 25 Andrew Ebbett 27 Craig Adams
54 Tom Kuhnhackl 38 Zach Sill 36 Bryan Rust
46 Dominic Uher 45 Adam Payerl 53 Tom Kostopoulos or
32 Pierre-Luc Leblond
58 Kris Letang 10 Christian Ehrhoff 1 Thomas Greiss
6 Scott Harrington 8 Brian Dumoulin 37 Jeff Zatkoff
52 Harrison Ruopp or 55 Philip Samuelsson
65 Alex Boak
The Penguins continue their preseason tonight as they travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. None of the players that played in last night’s 2-1 loss to Detroit will play this evening.
Neither will injured players Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis, Olli Maatta, Derrick Pouliot, and Nick Drazenovic. Crosby, Kunitz, Pouliot, Drazenovic, and Daniel Carcillo practiced in Pittsburgh this morning with strength coach Mike Kadar. Crosby, Kunitz, and Malkin’s injuries are not expected to be serious.
Missing that much talent at the top, especially at the top of the lineup, will prevent the Penguins from installing their power play to maximum efficiency.
Thomas Greiss will play the majority of the game. He and Jeff Zatkoff are in a direct competition for the backup goaltender spot but coach Mike Johnston expects to get him an entire game in at some point as well.
2014 top draft pick Kasperi Kapenen is expected to make his Penguins as he tries to make the team as an 18-year old.
Many of the “on the bubble” forwards will be playing including Craig Adams, Zach Sill, and Adam Payerl. Those three alongside minor-league enforcer Pierre-Luc Leblond and young defensive prospect Harrison Ruopp should ramp up the physicality.
The Penguins and Blue Jackets will meet again this Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
Photo Credit: NHL.com
