The Penguins take the ice against Florida tonight sitting outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture and facing a tough Panthers team that is third in the East, and tied for sixth overall.
Coach Mike Sullivan says his veteran team knows what it’s up against with 33 games left to play.
Yesterday, Evgeni Malkin returned to full practice and pronounced himself ready to go after missing Monday’s workout. He played the Pens’ games Friday and Saturday, and would not say what caused him to sit out practice last Thursday and Monday. Malkin also said he believes this Penguins team is a playoff team.
Sullivan says he also believes in the group, but he said they need to start playing the right brand of hockey, taking into account they aren’t the offense generators they used to be.
Sullivan says the Penguins’ players have the ability to adjust their games to the new reality of low-scoring games with fewer explosive plays.
The Pens put Noel Acciari on injured reserve yesterday with a concussion, a day after they put Jansen Harkins on IR for the same reason. They are so tightly against the salary cap, they might not be able to call anybody up as a replacement and may be forced to skate with only eleven forwards tonight.
The Penguins skate on WCCS tonight because of IUP basketball on U92.5 FM. The pregame begins at 6:30.
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