The Pittsburgh Penguins are navigating a wave of injury challenges as they prepare for their upcoming clash with the New Jersey Devils. Rookie forward Rutger McGroarty was notably absent from Thursday's practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
McGroarty, who has made a significant impact in his last five games, took a shot to the left foot in Tuesday's matchup against Chicago, forcing him to leave the ice early. Unfortunately, post-game insights into his condition have been scarce, but we anticipate updates following practice sessions.
Joining McGroarty on the sidelines are forwards Noel Acciari, Matt Nieto, and Blake Lizotte, who also missed practice. Meanwhile, there was some hopeful news as injured forward Philip Tomasino, dealing with a concussion, and defenseman P.O Joseph, out with an unspecified injury, were seen skating before practice. Joseph's ongoing efforts to stay in shape and potentially rejoin the lineup are encouraging signs for the team.
With the injury roster growing, the Penguins have called upon their AHL affiliates for support. Recent call-ups Emil Bemstrom, Vasily Ponomarev, and Valtteri Puustinen joined the practice, eager to fill the gaps and showcase their talents at the NHL level.
The Penguins are set to fly to New Jersey post-practice for their Friday night showdown, where the Devils, fresh off clinching their playoff berth along with a first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, await. It'll be a game that tests Pittsburgh's depth and resilience.
Here's a look at how the Penguins are shaping up their lines amidst these roster changes:
- The top line features Ville Koivunen skating alongside the legendary Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.
- Danton Heinen teams up with the ever-reliable Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell on the second line.
- Connor Dewar centers Kevin Hayes and Valtteri Puustinen.
- On the fourth line, Joona Koppanen is flanked by Vasily Ponomarev and Emil Bemstrom.
The defense pairings are strong as well, with Matt Grzelcyk pairing up with veteran Kris Letang, while Conor Timmins partners with star defenseman Erik Karlsson.
With some key players out and others ready to step in, the Penguins are set for what promises to be an intense and critical encounter against the Devils. Penguins fans will be watching closely to see how these mix-and-match lineups hold up on the ice.
