CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- So, who is the Penguins' sixth defenseman? Depends on what day you ask, apparently.
Tuesday in practice, Matt Hunwick skated on a pair with Jamie Oleksiak. On Wednesday it was Chad Ruhwedel's turn.
The switch on the third defense pair just a day before Thursday night's showdown against the Blue Jackets certainly adds some intrigue to the Penguins' lineup in Columbus. Although their playoff opponent and seeding is still to be determined, most simply, a win in Columbus -- coupled with a Devils home loss to the Maple Leafs -- will clinch home ice advantage for Pittsburgh in the first round.
Hunwick returned to the lineup March 29 at New Jersey after being a healthy scratch the previous 12 games behind Ruhwedel. Whether that was a final audition for Hunwick to reclaim his job, or just a chance to get some work in, remains to be seen. But in his latest stint, Jim Rutherford's biggest free agent signing last summer -- three years, $6.75 million -- did little to stand out, recording an assist to go along with a plus-2 rating, three hits and three blocks. The Penguins went 2-1 with Hunwick back in the lineup.
Ruhwedel had been a healthy scratch for two months before being summoned from the press box on March 3. He had been paired with Olli Maatta, and registered one goal and one assist to go along with 18 blocks and 13 hits in a dozen games. In Ruhwedel's 12 games in the lineup, the Penguins went 7-3-2.
With Maatta now with Justin Schultz and Brian Dumoulin reunited with Kris Letang, it would seem whatever changes are going to be made to the defense pairs will involve who plays with the left-handed shooting Oleksiak. As a right-handed shot, Ruhwedel would seem to have the edge, though Oleksiak can play on his off-hand.
No matter the configurations, the Penguins would like to find some semblance of continuity as they head toward the postseason.
"There’s been stretches where we haven’t been at our best, but we’ve also had some really good stretches where we show our true colors," Ruhwedel said after practice Wednesday. "This team has been battle-tested in recent years. I'm certainly excited for the upcoming games here."
• Looking no worse for wear, Phil Kessel was back on the ice Wednesday at the Lemieux Sports Complex. Kessel was back a day after being given what the team called a maintenance day. His streak of 690 consecutive games played had been in jeopardy Sunday against Washington after suffering a lower body injury a night earlier against Montreal.
• Derick Brassard and Carter Rowney did not take the ice. Brassard has missed the past three games with a groin injury but is progressing.
• The Penguins practiced with the following lines and pairs:
Guentzel - Crosby - Rust
Hagelin - Malkin - Hornqvist
Sheary - Sheahan - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Jooris - Aston-Reese/Simon
Dumoulin - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Oleksiak - Ruhwedel
Hunwick - (Gonchar)