Skate report: Matheson to make season debut vs. Stars taken at PPG Paints Arena (Penguins)

PENGUINS

Mike Matheson

After Mike Matheson participated in Monday's practice in Cranberry, Mike Sullivan said it was too early to determine whether Matheson would be available for Tuesday evening's game against the Stars at PPG Paints Arena.

"We'll see how he responds overnight, but he had a strong practice today," Sullivan said Monday. "I spoke to Mike after the practice, just to get his feedback on how he felt. He reiterated to me that he felt really strong. So we'll see how he responds overnight. But we're certainly encouraged."

Matheson evidently responded well to Monday's practice. He participated in Tuesday's optional morning skate, and Sullivan confirmed afterward that Matheson would play against the Stars.

It'll be the season debut for Matheson, who was sidelined with a nagging lower-body injury since last Monday in Tampa.

Since it was an optional morning skate and only nine players participated, there were no line combinations or defense pairings. But in Monday's practice, Matheson skated with Chad Ruhwedel on the third pairing -- with whom he skated in the preseason game in Detroit -- rather than alongside John Marino like we more frequently saw in the preseason:

Brian Dumoulin - Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson - John Marino
Mike Matheson - Chad Ruhwedel
(Mark Friedman)

When it comes to becoming familiar with a new defense partner, Matheson said Monday that communication will be key.

"Communication makes all the difference and allows you to get to know each other better faster, and execute plays better when you're out there," he said. "I think that regardless of who I'm playing with, that's the biggest thing to focus on."

MORE FROM THE SKATE: 

• Along with Matheson, the players who participated in the optional skate were Tristan Jarry, Casey DeSmith, Kasperi Kapanen, Ruhwedel, Marcus Pettersson, Sam Lafferty, Drew O'Connor, Dominik Simon, Brian Boyle, Teddy Blueger.

• Matt Cullen, who works with the Penguins in a player development role, was on the ice for the skate. It's the first time he's been on the ice with the team this season.

• Jarry was the first goaltender off the ice, and Sullivan confirmed afterward that Jarry will start.

Danton Heinen enters tonight's game as the Penguins' leading goal-scorer with three goals in three games, on pace for an 82-goal season. That probably won't hold up, but Sullivan thinks it's a sign of that offensive upside that he spoke about hoping to see more of from Heinen throughout camp.

"I just think it's indicative of his scoring ability," Sullivan said of Heinen's goals. "He's got a real good shot, he's got a dangerous shot. He can beat goalies with velocity, it's accurate. He picks his spots and he's able to hit them. So I think that's encouraging. ... Certainly what stands out in this early part of the season is just his shooting ability."

Heinen's shown a lot of that offense while playing alongside Jeff Carter. Sullivan was asked if Heinen might stick with Carter once Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin return.

"I'm just trying to win the game tonight," Sullivan said. "But just thinking aloud, certainly I think it bodes well for some of the potential possibilities when we get a full complement of players. It just gives us more versatility."

• The Stars had a full morning skate with these line combinations:

Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Alex Radulov
Jacob Peterson - Roope Hintz - Joel Kiviranta
Michael Raffl - Radek Faksa - Joe Pavelski
Tanner Kero - Luke Glendening - Denis Gurianov

Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Ryan Suter - Andrej Sekera
Joel Hanley - Jani Hakanpaa

Braden Holtby will start in goal for the Stars.

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