PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland and forward Joe Vitale were both in the lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night in place of defenseman Mark Eaton and forward Tyler Kennedy.
Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has not dressed either Engelland or Vitale since Game 2 of the second round against the Ottawa Senators on May 17. In four Stanley Cup Playoff games this spring, Engelland has no points, six penalty minutes, two shots on goal and a minus-4 rating. Vitale has one assist in four games with four penalty minutes, two shots on goal and an even rating.
Engelland has averaged 12:44 of ice time per game in the playoffs, which is far less than Eaton's 17:16 per game. Eaton is also used considerably on special teams, averaging 2:07 of ice time shorthanded and 2:30 on the power play per game. Engelland has played 2:10 per game with the man advantage this postseason, but has played just 32 seconds on the penalty kill.
Engelland played with Douglas Murray on Pittsburgh's third pairing.
Vitale has averaged 9:39 of ice time in his four games played, but he was scratched for Game 3 against Ottawa with an undisclosed injury and hasn't dressed since.
When asked about what Vitale brings to his lineup during the series against Ottawa, Bylsma mentioned he liked the speed Vitale adds to his fourth line when he's in there. However, he is replacing a very speedy player in Kennedy.
Vitale was skating with Craig Adams and Jussi Jokinen on Pittsburgh's fourth line.
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