The Penguins' game of Lineup Jenga has hit a new level.
Kris Letang has been ruled out of their game against the Maple Leafs tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena after recording a positive test for COVID-19.
He joins a list of prominent players that includes Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Carter and Bryan Rust.
Letang's place in the lineup is expected to be taken by Mark Friedman, although Juuso Riikola was recalled from the Penguins' farm team in Wilkes-Barre this afternoon.
Mike Sullivan added that Letang "has not confirmed positive," that he is undergoing additional testing to determine whether he actually has contracted the coronavirus.
Letang's absence likely will cause Sullivan to scramble his defense pairings, much as he has had to do with his top three centers unavailable.
Evan Rodrigues is expected to center the No. 1 line, with Jake Guentzel on his left side and Kasperi Kapanen on the right.
Rodrigues generally is a bottom-six forward, but Sullivan said he doesn't have any real concerns about Rodrigues straying from his normal game when he's been bumped into a bigger role.
"It's a good question," he said. "One of the conversations I always have with players when we move them into more significant roles is to make sure they don't change their game. What's given them the opportunity to play that significant role is playing the game a certain way.
"With respect to (Rodrigues), he's got a solid two-way game. He thinks the game well, offensively. He sees it pretty well. He sees the ice. He can distribute the puck. He's a competitive guy. But he also has good recognition skills and awareness skills away from the puck. He's got a defensive conscience. That's the player we want him to be."
Rodrigues has two goals and an assist in the Penguins' first four games.
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• Thirteen players took part in the optional skate. They were Dominik Simon, Chad Ruhwedel, Teddy Blueger, Marcus Pettersson, Mark Friedman, Tristan Jarry, Casey DeSmith, Sam Lafferty, Drew O'Connor, Brian Boyle, Crosby, Kapanen and Rodrigues.
• Crosby worked out on the ice with skills coach Ty Hennes for about 40 minutes before the optional began. Unlike Friday, Evgeni Malkin, who is recovering from knee surgery, did not go on the ice with Crosby.
• As the optional was winding down, Boyle set up about two feet in front of Jarry, who was trying to see -- and stop -- point shots by Friedman and Pettersson.
• Sullivan did not name his starting goalie, but it is expected to be Jarry. He was the first goalie to leave the ice at the optional skate.