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
2:31: From charter flights to five-star hotels, Teddy Blueger has gotten a taste of what the NHL is like during their recently completed road trip to Dallas and St. Louis. The only thing he hasn't done is, you know, play a game.
Since being recalled from Wilkes-Barre last Thursday, Blueger's been a healthy scratch the last two games.
"It would be big to play my first game," Blueger told me after practice Monday. "Hopefully get in soon."
Blueger centered the fourth line in practice with Rowney getting a maintenance day. He says he compares his game to former Penguin Nick Bonino, a reliable, two-way player: "Just chipping in offensively when you can," he said.
12:36: One last thing. I learn something new every day. Was talking Olympics with Ollli Maatta (he's really into it). I always wondered why the Finnish national jerseys say "Suomi" on the front. It simply means Finland. Had no idea that's what Finns call their country.
12:34: Not much news to report out of the room. Sullivan said that Rowney was given a maintenance day. I'll have much more a little later. Headed home.
11:46: Stretching commences my cue to head downstairs.
11:45: Aston-Reese again working with the No. 1 power play, Guentzel's old spot. Neither are Hornqvist though.
11:39: The lines and pairs (note Guentzel again):
Simon-Crosby-Rust
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Aston-Reese-Sheahan-Sheary
Guentzel-Blueger-Reaves
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Cole-Oleksiak
(Hunwick-Ruhwedel)
11:27: 2-on-1 breaks with Mark Recchi and Sergei Gonchar playing the D-men. That's kind of cool.
11:26: I'll get the lines and pairs up here shortly but I wouldn't expect any changes from what we've seen over the weekend. Again, we'll have to see about 37.
11:21: We've got some half-ice 3-on-2 shinny, small area stuff to start.
11:18: Not that I'd have expected any of them but no Tom Kuhnhackl, Carter Rowney or Patric Hornqvist today. Will get update later on Rowney.
11:16: Will get you a head count momentarily.
11:15: Mike Sullivan blows the whistle and his team convenes at center ice. We're under way.
11:07: Players slowly filtering on. Probably closer to an 11:15 start.
10:57: Greetings from Cranberry. Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry have taken the ice first and are working with Mike Buckley.
After taking three out of a possible four points in Dallas and St. Louis, the Penguins return to the practice ice this morning with a busy week ahead. I'll have coverage beginning at 11 a.m.