No changes expected after Penguins loss
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Left winger Chris Kunitz, a member of arguably the top line in the NHL this season, skated alongside Joe Vitale and Dustin Jeffrey during practice Monday at Southpointe.
That doesn't mean Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has decided to dismantle his top line in the wake of the 6-2 loss Sunday in Buffalo, however.
Just that Kunitz's usual linemates, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal, were given the day off, as were left winger Matt Cooke and defenseman Brooks Orpik.
At this point, there's no evidence that any of the four will be unable to dress when the Penguins face the New York Rangers tonight at Consol Energy Center, although Bylsma was somewhat cryptic about their status after the workout.
"We had maintenance days for several players who didn't go on the ice today," he said. "Varying degrees and varying bumps and bruises. We'll see what our lineup is [today]."
The Penguins added a little intrigue to the makeup of their team tonight when they recalled left winger Eric Tangradi from their American Hockey League team in Wilkes-Barre in late afternoon. He does not have a point in 12 NHL games this season.
Cooke was injured late in the first period Sunday, when a Kunitz slap shot struck him on the left forearm.
Cooke, in obvious pain, immediately skated to the bench and proceeded directly to the locker room.
He said Monday that the puck opened a gash that required stitches and said he feared initially that his arm had been broken, but added that he intends to play against the Rangers.
Cooke did, after being tended to, return to play the final two periods of the game in Buffalo.
Bylsma doesn't seem to be experiencing any buyer's remorse over that six-year, $30 million contract the Penguins signed Neal to Sunday.
"James has shown this year what kind of goal-scorer he is on the wing, and he's a Pittsburgh Penguin in how he plays," he said. "He's got speed, he's an aggressive player, he's a physical player and his shot, his release, is one of the best in the league.
"He's been an effective player for us. He's played alongside Evgeni for most of the year. He's been a big cog in our power play. ... Maybe something we didn't necessarily have in the past was a guy who's going to score the goal, and he's done that for our power play."
First Published February 21, 2012 12:00 am
