Team USA had yesterday off, resting up for the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game tomorrow night against Team Canada in Boston.
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy will miss the game as he was hospitalized Monday with a reported infection that developed as a result of his upper body injury. Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes will replace him. Hughes was an original member of the team but was removed due to an injury, but he is back to practicing regularly.
Coach Mike Sullivan says they have not yet determined their defensive alignment for tomorrow night.
Sullivan says the U.S. team, despite being loaded with offensive talent, has embrace the defensive game to make it this far.
PENGUINS
While Sullivan coaches Team USA, the Penguins got back to work after an eight-day layoff, with assistant coach Mike Vellucci running the show. Injured forwards Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin were “full go”, according to Vellucci, and newly-acquired defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok skated with the Penguins for the first time since being claimed off waivers from Utah on February 9th. Malkin has been out since January 25th and Rust has been out since February 8th.
Vellucci says the 4 Nations Face-off has been amazing to watch.
Vellucci says the players were rusty but eager in their first practice since the break.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Rickard Rakell will return from the 4 Nations Face-Off on Friday. Forward Emil Bemstrom and goaltender Joel Blomqvist were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton yesterday and Tristan Jarry was sent back down.
The Penguins host the Capitals on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday.
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