In their first practice back at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex after a taxing five-game road trip, the Pittsburgh Penguins shook things up on the blue line. The top pairing of Parker Wotherspoon and Erik Karlsson stayed solid, but there were some notable adjustments elsewhere.
Sam Girard, who has been sidelined for the last five games due to injury, was back in action, skating alongside Kris Letang. Meanwhile, Ryan Shea paired up with Connor Clifton, leaving Ilya Solovyov and Ryan Graves as the spare duo.
Coach Dan Muse was cautiously optimistic about Girard’s return, confirming he was fully participating in practice. However, he remained tight-lipped about whether Girard and Letang would hit the ice together against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
“We’re still evaluating in practice,” Muse mentioned. “We’ll finalize our decisions closer to game time.”
Girard and Letang have shared the ice since Girard was traded from Colorado in late February, though Girard’s recent injury paused their partnership. Girard expressed his admiration for Letang, saying, “He’s one of the best.
I watched him growing up, and playing alongside him is a great experience. He’s a big help out there.”
Ryan Graves, recently back from an AHL conditioning stint, was also present, though still on injured reserve. Jack St.
Ivany, recovering from hand surgery, participated in practice but worked out separately for part of the session. Forward Filip Hallander, dealing with a blood clot, was seen skating before practice.
The forward lines remained unchanged, featuring:
- Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust
- Egor Chinakhov, Tommy Novak, Evgeni Malkin
- Anthony Mantha, Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau
As the Penguins gear up for their upcoming clash with the Jets, these lineup tweaks could be pivotal in maintaining their momentum. Keep an eye on how these defensive adjustments play out on the ice.