After Saturday’s blowout loss in Toronto, the Penguins regrouped yesterday at their practice facility in Cranberry, and coach Mike Sullivan made big changes to his defense.
Sullivan paired Erik Karlsson with Ryan Graves, reunited Kris Letang with former partner Marcus Pettersson, matched Chad Ruhwedel with John Ludvig as his third pairing, and had P.O. Joseph teamed with Ryan Shea on the fourth group. They dress only three defensive pairs for a game so Joseph and Shea would appear to be healthy scratches for tonight’s game against Minnesota.
Sounding a lot like his counterpart, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, Sullivan said “Nothing is off the table” as he tries to find the right combinations to kick his team into gear.
Forwards Rickard Rakell and Noel Acciari were both full practice participants yesterday. Both have been on injured reserve and are eligible to return. Rakell has missed twelve games and Acciari has been out seven.
Former Penguins star Marc Andre Fleury is expected to start tonight in what could be his final appearance ever at PPG Paints Arena. The airtime is six o’clock on WCCS, with IUP basketball tonight on U92.
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