Kennedy slots into Crosby's spot

Tuesday, 04.02.2013 / 1:19 PM

By Chris Adamski - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Kennedy will slide into Sidney Crosby's spot on the Pittsburgh Penguins' top line for the game Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Kennedy skated during practice Tuesday morning at center, between Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis. However, coach Dan Bylsma said he could insert Dustin Jeffrey on that line if there's an important faceoff; Kennedy is not an experienced center and has taken 16 faceoffs this season.

Crosby sustained a broken jaw during a game Sunday against the New York Islanders and will be out indefinitely. Bylsma said Crosby was released from the hospital Monday morning.

For the Sabres, Luke Adam will make his NHL season debut Thursday; leading scorer Thomas Vanek will miss a fourth straight game.

Vanek skated Tuesday morning with the team, but said he's not recovered enough from an upper-body injury sustained March 26 to play.

Adam was recalled Monday from Rochester of the American Hockey League, and interim coach Ron Rolston said he'll play on the wing; he spent most of his time with the Sabres last season at center.

Also expected to play for the Sabres on Tuesday is defenseman Adam Pardy, who was recalled from Rochester on Tuesday morning but didn't arrive in time for the morning skate. He'll replace Robyn Regehr, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.

Here is what the lineups could look like when the Penguins and Sabres face off Thursday at Consol Energy Center:

SABRES

Steve Ott - Cody Hodgson - Jason Pominville

Marcus Foligno - Tyler Ennis - Drew Stafford

Luke Adam - Kevin Porter - Brian Flynn

Nathan Gerbe - Jochen Hecht - Patrick Kaleta

Christian Ehrhoff - Tyler Myers

Mike Weber - Andrej Sekera

Adam Pardy - Mark Pysyk

Ryan Miller

Jhonas Enroth

Scratched: John Scott