The Penguins lost to Columbus, 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday, but they also lost top-line winger Rickard Rakell for up to eight weeks. Rakell had hand surgery yesterday. It’s especially painful for him, because the Penguins will play in his native Sweden on November 14th and 16th against Nashville.
The Pens recalled rookie winger Ville Koivunen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to take Rakell’s place. At practice yesterday, coach Dan Muse had rookie Filip Hallander working the left wing on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. Koivunen worked on the third line with rookie center Ben Kindel and veteran Tommy Novak. Kindel took Rakell’s spot on the power play.
Muse says the Penguins will have to find the best fit to replace Rakell.
Muse likes the chemistry he’s seen between Crosby, Rust, and Hallander.
The Penguins will host the St. Louis Blues tonight at PPG Paints Arena. The airtime is six o’clock, with faceoff shortly after seven on 92.5 FM, U92.
Comments