Things are trending in the right direction for the Penguins to open the regular season on Oct. 13 against the Coyotes without any injuries of note on the roster.
With Jeff Carter making a full return from his upper-body injury over the course of this week, the lone injured Penguin is Teddy Blueger, who has been out with an upper-body injury since leaving practice early last Wednesday.
Blueger has been skating with skills coach Ty Hennes before the group sessions throughout the week, and on Friday morning here at PPG Paints Arena, Blueger re-joined his teammates for the first time since the injury for the Penguins' optional morning skate. Blueger donned a white non-contact jersey and, obviously, will not play Friday night against the Sabres.
Mike Sullivan sounded optimistic that Blueger will return to full capacity sooner than later.
"Well, it is a step," Sullivan said of Blueger joining his teammates. "He skated this morning with Ty, he joined the group. That’s an important step for him. He’s making significant progress, we’re really encouraged. We’re hopeful that he’ll join us for practice after the game here for the next week or so and participate in a full capacity. That’s obviously the final step before his return to play."
Blueger did not appear to be physically limited while shooting or passing during the brief skate.
Tristan Jarry will get the start in goal Friday night and play the entirety of the game, Sullivan also said. Filip Lindberg will be the backup. Lindberg was called up earlier in the week to be the backup for Casey DeSmith in Detroit because Jarry was sick. Jarry returned to the ice the following day, but Lindberg has stuck around and hasn't yet been re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's training camp in the AHL as of yet.
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• It was a pretty light morning skate. All of the defensemen participated except for Brian Dumoulin and Jeff Petry, but only five forwards (including Blueger) took the option to skate.
Here's a complete list of the participants: Blueger (non-contact), Kasperi Kapanen, Ryan Poehling, Sam Poulin, Danton Heinen, Kris Letang, Marcus Pettersson, Jan Rutta, P.O Joseph, Mark Friedman, Chad Ruhwedel, Ty Smith, Jarry, Lindberg.
• Sullivan took the option not to skate today, as Todd Reirden and Mike Vellucci orchestrated the session. Hennes was out there and ran a couple of drills, as well. Goalie coach Andy Chiodo spent almost the entire session working with Lindberg.
• It sure sounds like Josh Archibald is a lock to make the NHL roster out of camp, as if that wasn't a given from the one-way, above league-minimum contract Ron Hextall signed him to on the very first day of free agency.
Sullivan weighed in on what he believes Archibald brings to the table.
"I think he’s one of those guys that can help us build and sustain momentum with the way he plays," he said. "He’s on the puck, he’s tenacious, and he’s hard to play against."
• Puck drop tonight against the Sabres is at 7:08 p.m. I'll have your coverage along with Taylor Haase and Dejan Kovacevic.
