CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Looking ahead to today’s session …
• What: Penguins practice
• When: 11 a.m.-noon
• Where: Lemieux Sports Complex
• Media availability: Noon-12:30 p.m.
FOLLOW PRACTICE WITH BRADFORD
2:44: Over the past month, Jake Guentzel has bounced between the top three lines and even played at center for a brief while. If Thursday's practice lines are to be believed, Guentzel will be back on the top line with Sidney Crosby, the center who propelled him to cult hero last spring, and Bryan Rust.
Guentzel has 16 goals in 55 games, matching his 2016-17 production, albeit in 15 more games. In last year's playoffs, Guentzel led all scorers with 13 goals in 25 games while routinely playing with Crosby. Clearly, the Penguins would like to get him going by reuniting him with Crosby.
" Whenever you get a chance to play with him it's exciting," Guentzel said. "Lookign forward to the opportunity and taking advantage of it."
1:45: Since rejoining the team following the death of his father, Matt Murray hsa played three of the Penguins' four games.
Though his numbers haven't been great, allowing 10 goals, he's won each of his three starts. Murray told me after practice that he is starting to to feel like his old self.
"I just try to jump in and get right back to it and felt pretty good right away," Murray told me. "I have enough good practice time to shake off the rust."
12:43: Sullivan said that Kuhnhackl is week to week, Rowney is day to day. Sheary will make the trip and that Hornqvist is still week to week. I'll be doing the injuries as a separate story.
12:04: Stretching begins as practice comes to close. Will be headed to the room for updates. See you in about an hour.
12:03: Reminder there's a big mid-C Primanti Brothers game here tonight at 10;30. Good seats still available.
12:01: Now some work on the PP.
11:57: Recchi with the tip to the top shelf draws big "Oh!" from the bench. Five seconds later he attempts a drop pass to ... no one. "Ooooh!" is the response from bench.
11:54: Brian Dumoulin damn near hits Phil Kessel in the rear with errant shot as he was skating past the net. Phil shot him a look like, "Don't ever shoot, that's my job."
11:44: Lines and pairs ...
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Aston-Reese-Sheahan-Sheary
Simon-(Recchi)-Reaves
Dumoulin-Leatang
Maatta-Schultz
Cole-Oleksiak
(Hunwick-Ruhwedel)
11:38: Letang knocks down Reaves in front of net and gives him a few playful crosschecks. Things you won't see happen in games.
11:34: Sheary has switched to yellow jersey. Read into that what you want, but I assume he's good to go.
11:27: I'll get you the lines and pairs when they do rushes here in a bit.
11:17: 3-on-3, cross-ice shinny to start with what I assume is a weighted red puck.
11:16: Nope, no Tom Kuhnhackl or Carter Rowney (or Patric Hornqvist). Sullivan will give update after practice.
11:15: Mike Sullivan and coaching staff take the ice. And we're under way in Cranberry.
11:09: Well, here's one "new" guy. Conor Sheary has taken the ice in a white, non-contact jersey. He's been out since Jan. 30 game against Sharks with lower body injury.
11:03: Looks like they're running a little late today. Couple guys have started to filter out.
10:55: Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry are the first ones on the ice.
10:42: No roster moves have been announced as of yet, so we'll wait and see who and who isn't skating today.
10:40: Greetings from Cranberry where the Penguins are set to take the ice shortly. Here a little early after having to drop the wife off at work (transmission went out).
Following an off-day Wednesday, the Penguins return to the ice for practice this morning in Cranberry before embarking on a two-game road trip to Dallas and St. Louis. I'll have coverage beginning at 11 a.m.