Looking ahead to today’s session …
• What: Penguins practice
• When: 11 a.m.
• Where: PPG Paints Arena
• Media availability: Noon-12:30 p.m.
FOLLOW PRACTICE WITH BRADFORD
1:21: After spending the last two weeks back in the minors, Tristan Jarry was back in his familiar locker stall at PPG Paints Arena. While no one wants to be demoted, Jarry said he understood the move to ride Casey DeSmith. It also allowed him to get some much-needed work in.
With the luxury of neither Jarry or DeSmith having to clear waivers, the Penguins can send either one down to the AHL to get work in. That's what Jarry did, going 3-0 and stopping 80 of 85 shots.
"I think that helps with my development, to stay reading the game, sometime your mind might slip a bit if you don’t play for a while," he said. "It’s just staying sharp and learning to play some of those back-to-back games."
Jarry is also learning about the NHL trade rumor mill. With three NHL-ready goalies in the system, the Penguins could move one before the Feb. 26 deadline, though Jim Rutherford has denied that.
"You can't really think about what’s going to happen long-term," he said. "You just have to take it day by day, and work on the things you need to and keep improving."
1:18: Pulling up to PPG Paints Arena for practice on Monday, Zach Aston-Reese admits it started to sink in a little bit that he's in the NHL. Aston-Reese made his debut Saturday in Newark against the Devils and says he's ready to move on from the "shock and awe stage" and just play his game.
He describes his game as being defensively responsible while being a net front presence in the offensive zone. That, he says, is what he'd been doing in Wilkes-Barre, scoring 15 points in his last 14 games before being recalled.
His assessment of his first NHL game: "I had that scoring chance early on, think first shift. Not much of an angle but I kept dwelling on it when I got back to the bench. I should have gone to my backhand but I think it was a good first outing. I thought that I skated well. It is a lot faster than the American League for sure, but it was an exciting day."
1:14: Sullivan said that Horqnvist is week to week.
1:13: Kessel wasn't feeling well today, according to Sullivan. Thus his absence.
12:07: Headed downstairs ... Be back in a bit.
12:06: Hall of Famer Recchi scores to even things at 5-5.
12:04: Malkin makes things interesting by passing pucks at the shooters.
12:02: Cole among the scorers (on Jarry). Can see his toothless smile from here.
12:00: Yep, goal horn works.
11:59: Mike Buckley clearing snow with shovel for shootout.
11:58: Ha, there's one kid with a Marc-Andre Fleury Vegas jersey:
11:55: We're going to the shootout. Haven't seen them practice this one yet.
11:54: Ol' 29er has to remind kids not to throw stuff on the ice. Don't want him to go all Mike Milbury on some kid with a shoe.
11:52: Vegas will be practicing here a little bit later. I'll also have you covered for that.
11:50: Using two D-men on first PP unit with Letang and Schultz (remember no Kessel) and Guentzel in the Hornqvist spot.
11:45: Getting in some 4-on-4 work. Sully blew whistle to stop one drill. Can barely hear it over the din of the crowd.
11:38: The lines:
Simon-Crosby-Rust
Hagelin-Malkin-Kuhnhackl
Guentzel-Sheahan-Recchi (Kessel)
Aston-Reese-Rowney-Reaves
11:35: Looks like defense pairs will stay the same:
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Cole-Oleksiak
Extra: Hunwick-Ruhwedel
11:32: Kids have started their own organic "Let's Go Pens!" chant.
11:22: Pens working on some small area 2-on-1 battle drills to start.
11:18: Only players not on ice are Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist, who is out with a lower body injury sustained Friday night vs. Capitals.
11:16: Just noticed the upper level is screened off.
11:14: I'll get you a head count in a little bit. Tristan Jarry, obviously, is here.
11:12: Players (except Rust apparently) are wearing practice jerseys that have names and numbers on the back. A novel concept.
11:07: Go figure, loudest cheers for 87.
11:04: Phil Bourque is emceeing the event, introducing all the players as they take the ice.
11:03: Greetings from PPG Paints Arena where the Penguins are hosting a few thousand students from Allegheny County school districts. Needless to say it's loud.
THE SETUP
Coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Devils in North Jersey that snapped a four-game win streak, the Penguins return to practice on their home ice. I'll have you covered this morning from the corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Place.