Penguins Notebook: Dupuis battered, but unbowed
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Penguins forwards Bill Guerin, left, and Sidney Crosby, right, help Pascal Dupuis off the ice after he was hit into the boards by Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton in the third period Tuesday. Sutton yesterday was suspended for two games.
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Pascal Dupuis' right eye was nearly swollen shut -- the area surrounding it a blur of angry colors.
And the gash on his forehead -- the one from which so much blood had poured the previous evening -- still was terribly fresh.
Despite his appearance, Dupuis prefers to think of himself as day to day.
Battered as he is after being knocked face-first into the boards on a hit from behind by New York Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton late in the Penguins' 6-4 victory Tuesday night -- a check that earned Sutton a two-game suspension from the NHL -- Dupuis has not been ruled out of the Penguins' game against the Washington Capitals at 7:38 tonight at Mellon Arena.
Mind you, he is a long shot to actually dress for the game, but he said "there's a chance" if additional tests today do not detect any structural damage and coach Dan Bylsma decides to use him.
Dupuis and Sutton used to be teammates, and Dupuis said he knew that Sutton was upset about what he did.
"He felt really bad," Dupuis said. "He tried to contact me. I sent him a text back."
Dupuis did not call for Sutton to be suspended, but made it clear that, remorse aside, Sutton had to accept responsibility for his actions.
"Maybe he didn't want to do it," Dupuis said. "But he still did it."
Penguins forward Max Talbot, apparently injured when he was chopped down by Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson during the second period, described himself as "day to day" and said his injury has nothing to do with the shoulder that was surgically repaired during the offseason.
Because the Penguins have been carrying just 12 healthy forwards, they will have to recall one from their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre if Talbot or Dupuis can't play tonight, two if neither can go.
First Published January 21, 2010 12:00 am
