Crosby is dealing with an illness and will be held out of the next two games as a precaution. He will undergo further testing in the next few days to determine the nature of the illness. The Penguins are expected to get Patric Hornqvist and Kris Letang back tonight, but losing Crosby is detrimental.
Letang has missed the last five games with a groin injury, but is expected to be back tonight according to coach Johnston. Letang has registered 18 points (4G / 14A) in 22 games this season and is a premiere fantasy option on the back-end.
Crosby missed Thursday’s practice because he was under the weather, but he is on the ice this morning for the game-day skate, so expect him to suit up tonight vs. Calgary. He could also have Patric Hornqvist returning to his wing tonight.
Letang has missed the last five games with a groin injury that he suffered in late October. Letang took part in a full practice on Thursday and said that he just needs to be cleared by the Penguins medical department.
Letang was on the ice for the Penguins’ morning skate on Monday, but did not take part in line rushes and was not very involved in drills. It looks like Letang will miss a fifth straight game, but being on the ice for the morning skate, is a good sign that he should be back this week.
Rust did not get into the lineup during his recall. He was scheduled to play this afternoon, he lost his spot in the lineup when the Penguins acquired Rob Klinkhammer on Friday.
Rakell, 21, had three assists in 17 games with the Ducks before being sent down. In two games with Norfolk, Rakell tallied ones goal and three assists. He has been recalled because Corey Perry is out with a knee injury.
Letang will miss his fourth consecutive game with a groin injury this afternoon. However, the fact that he skated this morning suggests that he could join the Penguins for practice next week, which is the next step in returning to the lineup.
Rust, 22, was the Penguins third round pick (80th overall) in 2010. His recall likely means that Patric Hornqvist’s injury last night will keep him sidelined for a little while at least. Rust has 11 points (7G / 4A) in 22 games with WBS.
Letang’s “minor lower-body injury” is not looking so minor anymore. Coach Johnston said that it will be about two weeks, so we will consider him out for 10-14 days. Christian Ehrhoff and Olli Maatta get a bump in fantasy value with the extended power-play time they will see.
The Penguins originally called Letang’ injury a minor lower-body ailment, but a groin injury is a little more serious than minor, just for the fact they are so difficult to manage. There is no word on when the Penguins expect to get Letang back in the lineup.
The move is likely retroactive to November 28th, which means that Letang will miss Thursday’s game vs. the Canucks as well, because he is not eligible to be activated until Friday. The Penguins called it a “minor lower-body injury” so he could be back on Saturday vs. the Senators.
Head coach Mike Johnston said that Crosby is “under the weather” and undergoing some testing. Monitor Crosby’s status throughout the day, but I wouldn’t expect Crosby to sit due to an illness.
Letang will miss his second straight game with what the Penguins called a “minor lower-body” injury. With Letang sidelined, Robert Bortuzzo will stay in the lineup. Letang is considered day-to-day.
Letang missed Saturday’s game with what the Penguins called a “minor lower-body injury”. While the word minor would suggest he won’t miss a lot of time, however his absence this morning suggests he could miss tomorrow’s game vs. New Jersey.
There is no word on if Letang suffered and injury. He could have been injured in warmups. Robert Bortuzzo will be in the lineup.
Mantha has been sidelined since mid-September with a fractured tibia. He has been cleared to do some practice drills this week and the Red Wings are hoping he will make his pro hockey debut with Grand Rapids in a couple of weeks. The Red Wings are always patient with their prospects so Mantha will have to get his feet wet with the Griffins, before he can even consider making his NHL debut.
Hayes was one of the last players on the ice at the Rangers morning skate which suggests he will serve as a healthy scratch tonight vs. Minnesota. He was also bumped off of the power-play, which is another sign that he will not play. Ryan Malone is expected to take his spot in the lineup, with Martin St. Louis moving to his spot as the first line centre. Hayes has one goal and one assist in six games.
Well there you go, first year head coach Mike Johnston all but guarenteed that Malkin will return from his lower-body injury and play the right wing on the Penguins second line with Pascal Dupuis and Brandon Sutter.
Malkin missed all of the preseason but has been practicing the last two days and says he thinks he will play when the Penguins open up their season on Thursday vs. the Ducks. Health has been a concern for Malkin in recent years (missed 85 games in 4 years), but talent definitely is not a concern. He had 23 goals and 49 assists (72 points) in 60 games last season.
