The Penguins return to the ice tonight to meet the New York Rangers, two days after a crushing loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Pens are now tied with the New York Islanders for the first Wild Card in the NHL Eastern Conference, both teams with 78 points, five more than the Washington Capitals and the Florida Panthers, although the Panthers are technically not in the Wild Card chase because they hold the third spot in the Atlantic Division, which is a guaranteed playoff slot.
The Penguins yesterday put defenseman Dmitry Kulikov on long term injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. The designation is retroactive to last Sunday, when Kulikov was hurt against the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena. ON Tuesday, both defensemen Jeff Petry and Jan Rutta left the game against Montreal with injuries, and the Pens canceled practice yesterday, so there is no update on how badly they are hurt or whether or not they will be available tonight. The Pens did not announce any roster moves.
Tonight’s game is the first of two consecutive at Madison Square Garden. The Pens and Rangers face off again on Saturday. Airtime tonight on 92.5 FM U92 is 6 o’clock. The faceoff is shortly after 7.
Penguins prospect Sam Poulin has returned to hockey after a three month absence due to mental health reasons. The 2019 number one draft pick has played in thirteen games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and three for the Penguins. The 22-year-old wrote on his Instagram that he was ready to return to Wilkes-Barre after seeking the help he needed. He urged everyone to “speak openly about mental health” and encourage those who are struggling to “please know that you are not alone.”
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