Penguins
Updated: Rust Being Evaluated; Malkin with Crosby as Lines Scrambled
CRANBERRY, Twp — Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust did not participate in practice Monday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Rust left Saturday’s game in Vancouver when he was crunched into the boards by Nils Hoglander. He put little to no weight on his right leg.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Rust is still being medically evaluated.
Center Evgeni Malkin practiced. He made a dazzling play to score Saturday but, in the process, crashed with his left shoulder or side into a goalpost. He was down on the ice briefly but remained in the game.
In fact, Malkin skated on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell as the struggling Penguins scrambled their lines.
“They’re pretty dynamic players,” Sullivan said of Crosby and Malkin skating together. “We’re trying different combinations to see if we can create a spark for the group.
“We thought we’d give it a try in practice and see what it looked like. They had a fair amount of time together in the third period the other night in Vancouver. They had a handful of pretty good shifts. I’ve used them a lot, more so than any other year in my time together these first 10 games.”
Also on the ice Monday was forward Cody Glass. He missed Saturday’s game because of illness.
Forward Matt Nieto, who is on LTIR after knee surgery, joined practice, as did forward Blake Lizotte, who is recovering from a concussion. Lizotte was in a no-contact jersey.
“It’s an exciting day,” said Nieto, who confirmed he has been cleared for contact. “I’ve only been skating for about six to seven weeks. Prior to that, it was all off-the-ice stuff and rehab. It was a long time with some boring stuff in the gym. … Kind of at the next step in the process.”
New Penguins Lines
Evgeni Malkin-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Anthony Beauvillier-Kevin Hayes-Jesse Puljujarvi
Drew O’Connor-Lars Eller-Noel Acciari
Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Valtteri Puustinen
The defensive pairings:
Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-Jack St. Ivany
Why has Bunting been so invisible after being highly effective last season?
One of the million dollar questions, eh?
Maybe last season he felt they had a chance… and after 10 games this season, not so much? shrug.
I understand the temptation to play those guys together & I can see it periodically, but given the lack of offensive depth, it only makes them easier to defend if it’s a consistent line. Opponents can simply deploy their top defensive players against them or use their fastest skaters to pressure them and force them to play on the back foot. With the way the current roster is built, this strategy doesn’t seem effective & perhaps desperate.
I agree, but times are desperate…
Unfortunately that combination has never worked before.
3-6-1. They ARE desperate. Sully wont change how they play D so scrambling lines is the last act of a desperate man.
Back to the Injured List !!!!!!!
Always enjoy seeing line changes – they’re fascinating. With that said, those 2nd and 4th lines are brutal at face-value. All 3 playing at least solid for us so far, fortunately. And all 3 who likely wouldn’t make the roster for a handful of teams… being on our 2nd line. We will hope for the best.
Scratch Karl65 and try Shey at #2 right defenseman. MAYBE the pens will actually have some defense for once.
Continuing to play EK and Graves is either an acknowledgement that the defense group is thin, or a startling lack of film time. Neither should see the ice.
Rust gets hurt A LOT.
Players that play with heart usually do. Unfortunately not many players with heart on the penguins these days
Judging by how hard Rust has back checked this season I wouldn’t put him into that category anymore
Thoughts on the lines for plan B?