CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Looking ahead to today’s session …
• What: Penguins practice
• When: Noon-1 p.m.
• Where: Lemieux Sports Complex
• Media availability: 1-1:30 p.m.
FOLLOW PRACTICE WITH BRADFORD
4:02: Simon has looked right at home in the NHL, but he hasn't made Pittsburgh his home just yet. The Penguins haven't informed him to rent or buy a place just yet, so Simon has been making due at an area hotel for the last two months.
"It's kind of funny but it's easy, hotel life," Simon said. "They clean for you."
3:10: If Sheary is a no-go this weekend vs. the Capitals and Devils, Rust would seem a likely fit on the top line. Actually, Rust can fit on any line. Rust's versatility is based on speed, much like Sheary, making them almost interchangeable.
"I think him and Conor share similar attributes there with their quickness and puck pursuit and ability to force turnovers or force errant passes by putting defensemen under duress," Sullivan said.
3:14: Count Dominik Simon among those not surprised to see Crosby closing in on the scoring lead. The captain is eight points behind Tampa's Nikita Kucherov, 64 points to 56. Simon says he's been amazed at Crosby's competitive streak and is trying to sponge as much as he can, listening intently as Crosby diagrams plays on the tablet at the bench.
"I'm just trying to learn from this and trying to be the same," Simon said. "I noticed it for sure. It's important to keep playing because even if you're winning or losing, you have to (play hard). It's a 60 minute game."
Simon points to the Penguins' six-goal lead over Minnesota, which became a 6-3 win.
"You see what can happen in such a short time," he said. It's just unreal how this guys keep playing 60 minutes every game."
2:10: Crosby played 21:42 on Tuesday, which is only about a minute above his season average, but Sullivan said he wouldn't want him to play that much every game. More specifically, Sullivan doesn't want his team taking so many penalties -- like four in the second period -- so he wouldn't be forced to use Crosby on the PK. Crosby played 1:23 shorthanded, mainly to win faceoffs, not block shots.
1:55: Sullivan says that Crosby and Letang had maintenance days. Conor Sheary was being evaluated for a lower body injury but had not further update on his status.
12:56: Stretching commences and I'm headed to the room. More later.
12:47: Some interesting drills here that I've never seen. Going full American Ninja Warrior. Painted line going from the right dot to post.
... And n obstacle course for d-men to shoot through. Annnnn someone, I think Maatta, just broke the stick below on the right. There goes a couple hundred bucks.
12:37: No line rushes, per se, but familiar duos in 2-on-1's.
12:28: Defense pairs (no, Gonch hasn't come out of retirement):
Dumoulin-Gonchar
Maatta-Schultz
Cole-Oleksiak
Hunwick-Ruhwedel
12:14: Sullivan blows the whistle and we're under way.
12:13: Highlight so far is Malkin is lifting pucks over the glass to kids behind netting.
12:06: No official head count yet but see everyone but Crosby and Letang so far. All-Star treatment.
12:03: Rust, who was a post away from his second career HT, is workin on his shot on an empty half of ice.
12:01: Two of the first three players on the ice are two of the biggest heroes of Tuesday night's win over San Jose: Bryan Rust and Matt Murray.
12:00: Greetings from Cranberry where the Penguins are filing on to the ice. They're running a little late.
The Penguins are right back at it today as they take the ice for a scheduled practice in Cranberry. I'll have coverage beginning at noon.