CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Looking ahead to today’s session …
• What: Penguins practice
• When: 11 a.m.
• Where: Lemieux Sports Complex
• Media availability: Noon-12:30 p.m.
FOLLOW PRACTICE WITH BRADFORD
12:55: Murray is the Penguins’ ambassador for “Hockey is for Everyone,” a league initiative that promotes diversity and inclusion in the month of February. “I feel for those who don’t feel included,” Murray said. All 31 NHL teams have chosen ambassadors.
Other interesting Murray fact. He has two sets of pads, one for practice and one for games. Told me he prefers pads right out of the box and stiffer.
12:54: Sheary is out week to week. Story upcoming.
12:00: Stretch time and I’m headed to room. Will have more for you later.
11:56: Jim Rutherford and Bill Guerin looking over practice from their balcony. Talking about third-line centers. Probably.
11:55: Good Samaritan Sid Crosby helping ice crew shovel some show that had built up around Zamboni door.
11:51: Perfunctory power play work time.
11:43: Murray working in the No. 1 net for what it’s worth. Tomorrow night’s starter won’t be known until tomorrow of course, but it’ll be interesting to see if DeSmith gets Jersey game Saturday.
11:39: Ruhwedel and Hunwick are extra pair.
11:36: Lines and pairs:
Simon-Crosby-Rust
Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist
Guentzel-Sheahan-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Dea-Reaves
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Cole-Oleksiak
11:30: Working on 2-0 POP (put off pads) rebounds.
11:21: No Sheary today. Out with LBI.
11:19: A little half-ice 2-on-2, then 3-on-2, drill to start with nets in corners.
11:15: Mike Sullivan steps on and the whistle is blown to start festivities.
11:12: No, no sign yet of Conor Sheary but I’ll get you head count/rushes/pairs in a bit.
11:10: As expected, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are back after getting day off yesterday.
11:04: Carter Rowney has joined his teammates on the ice, albeit in a white non-contact, jersey. Everyone else in the standard black or gold. Rowney has been out since Jan. 2 with UBI.
10:59: Greetings again from the North Hills where the Penguins are starting to file out for practice. First players on include the goalies, Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith and forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Matt Hunwick.
THE SETUP
The Penguins practice today before back-to-back division games with the Capitals and Devils. I’ll have you covered this morning in Cranberry.
