PITTSBURGH -- Forward Brian Gibbons will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the New York Rangers.

Gibbons, who missed five games with an undisclosed injury, skated in place of forward Tanner Glass during the Penguins' pregame warmups. He did not skate on a line during Pittsburgh's morning skate.

Gibbons will play fourth-line right wing with forwards Marcel Goc and Craig Adams at Consol Energy Center on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

PITTSBURGH -- It's usually the team trailing in a series that feels a need to play desperate hockey. But the New York Rangers are feeling their own level of desperation going into Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday at Consol Energy Center (7:30 p.m. ET; CBC, RDS, NBCSN).

The Rangers lead the best-of-7 series 1-0 and have a chance to take a 2-0 series lead back to New York. That's despite a power play that has been in a deep sleep for much of the postseason.

"It's a great opportunity," defenseman Anton Stralman said. "I think everybody is looking to this game and really feeling good about our last game, and hopefully we can carry that over to [Game 2]. It's a big game. If we can get out of here with a 2-0 lead that would be great."

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins will have the same lineup, but expect to be a different team when they face the New York Rangers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series Sunday at Consol Energy Center (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

That means defenseman Brooks Orpik will most likely miss his fourth consecutive game with an undisclosed injury after taking part in the Penguins' optional practice on Saturday.

Pittsburgh did not make any line adjustments during its morning skate on Sunday. Orpik did not return to the ice after skating on his own about an hour before the skate and forward Brian Gibbons (undisclosed) did not work on a line.

PITTSBURGH -- New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault knows how important it is for his team to be successful on the power play. But the current struggles with the man advantage aren't causing him too much concern.

The Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series despite going 0-for-4 on the power play. That ran their streak of consecutive unsuccessful power plays to 25, dating to Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Game 2 against Pittsburgh will be Sunday at Consol Energy Center (7:30 p.m. ET; CBC, RDS, NBCSN).

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik skated Saturday for the first time since sustaining an undisclosed injury, but his status remains unknown for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the New York Rangers.

Orpik participated in Pittsburgh's optional practice Saturday morning along with several Penguins. The group consisted mostly of players who aren't expected to play in Game 2 on Sunday at Consol Energy Center (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS). Orpik has not officially rejoined the team and left the ice several minutes before any other player.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who does not offer injury updates during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, did not discuss Orpik's injury.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins will likely have forwards Brandon Sutter and Joe Vitale in their lineup to start their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the New York Rangers on Friday.

Sutter and Vitale each left Pittsburgh's Game 6 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets early with apparent injuries. Sutter returned to the bench late in the third period but did not step back on the ice. Vitale did not return after a knee-to-knee hit that left him lying on the ice for several minutes before being helped to the locker room.

Sutter said he expects to play in Game 1 at Consol Energy Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

"I think everyone feels good," Sutter said. "We had a couple days to rest and had a good few practices and hopefully we're all feeling fresh by tonight. [The Rangers] definitely had a good second half. They played well and managed to get home ice in the first round. It's going to be a tight series and we expect tight, tight games."

PITTSBURGH -- Despite a schedule that has the New York Rangers playing six games in nine days, they do not think they are at a disadvantage entering Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Rangers will play their third game in four days Friday at Consol Energy Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS). Pittsburgh has had three days to rest and practice since their last game, but New York doesn't think that will affect the series' outcome.

"You can't look at the big picture," Rangers forward Martin St. Louis said. "You just have to focus on the game, and then once that game's over, regroup and focus on Game 2. You can't focus on six in nine. They're in the same boat that we are, so we aren't going to overthink it. Just get ready for the next game."

NEW YORK -- Moments after the New York Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Second Round with a 2-1, Game 7 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, they weren't taking too much time to celebrate. They were instead preparing to meet the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fresh off their third game in four days, New York's coaching staff was already putting together the game plan for their Metropolitan Division rival.

"We're going to prepare that tonight," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "We're battle-tested and we're ready for the next series."

The Penguins finished the season first in the division, 13 points ahead of the second-place Rangers. New York and Pittsburgh split four regular-season games, with each team winning once in the shootout and the Rangers holding a 13-12 advantage in goals scored.