Inside Scoop: Pens-Sens
HORNQVIST OUT
Pens winger Patric Hornqvist (upper-body) was ruled out of tonight's matchup with the Senators. Hornqvist did make the trip with the team, was on the ice for morning skate and took reps on line rushes and the power play.
However, he was the first player to leave the ice during the skate and head coach Mike Sullivan said he would not play. He is listed as day-to-day, and the injury is not concussion-related.
Hornqvist suffered the injury on Thursday in a 6-2 win against the NY Islanders. He did not return after the first period.
CROSBY-KESSEL CONNECTION
When Hornqvist was knocked out of the game Thursday, the Pens had to tinker with their line combinations. They found a spark when they placed Phil Kessel with Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby.
The trio would post two even-strength goals against the Islanders.
"The last game they played extremely well for us," Sullivan said. "We've tried them in the past together. They haven't played a lot 5-on-5 together most recently. I thought their game the other night was strong, so we thought that we would start there and see how it goes."
Sullivan believes that Crosby has the ability to adapt to any linemate he may have. And Crosby seems to already have a thorough scouting report on his new wingmate.
"(Kessel) likes to get ahead of the play and create open ice for himself, especially on the wing," Crosby said. "I just have to make sure I support him when I do get him the puck. He's so dangerous 1-on-1 and creating space for himself. Sometimes you just give it to him and he can make something happen."
Crosby and Guentzel have been linemates for the past two-plus years. But Kessel has rarely seen action with the duo. Now, that looks like it will change.
"I've always liked playing with (Kessel)," Guentzel said. "He's such a good player and passer. He can shoot the puck. He can make any play.
"When you play with those two players you just try to get them the puck as much as you can and let them do the work. They're two really high-end players."
DEA RETURNS
When winger Jean-Sebastien Dea was placed on waivers by New Jersey, he was hoping that he might return to the place where his career started: Pittsburgh.
"When I knew I was going on waivers I was hoping I would come back to Pittsburgh," Dea said. "When (Pens assistant GM) Billy Guerin called me I was really happy."
Despite 10 teams picking ahead of the Penguins, the team did put in a claim for Dea. Luckily for both sides, it worked out. And now Dea comes back to the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent.
"First and foremost, he can skate, so he's going to bring speed to the line that he plays on," Sullivan said. "J-S has really worked on his game over the last couple of years to turn himself into a reliable, responsible player. He's a guy that can really shoot the puck. He's really improved on his defensive aspect of his game."
It's been an interesting few months for Dea. He had a strong training camp with the Pens, but couldn't crack the lineup. So Pittsburgh placed him on waivers, hoping to send him to their American Hockey League affiliate.
But Dea was claimed by the New Jersey Devils - an expected outcome as GM Ray Shero and assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald were instrumental in recruiting Dea when they were in the Pens' front office.
"We didn't want to lose him in the first place," Sullivan said. "He had a real good camp for us."
So it was a no-brainer for the Pens when they saw he was available.
"It's been crazy, but it's part of the game, part of business," Dea said. "I'm just really excited to have another chance here and see the guys again. Everything started here for me and I'm comfortable being here."
ODDS AND ENDS
* The Pens will catch a break as Ottawa's leading scorer, Matt Duchene, was placed on Injured Reserve today with a groin injury. Star Bobby Ryan (concussion) is going on IR.
* Goaltender Matt Murray and center Matt Cullen took the ice following the team's morning skate. They continue to work towards a return.
"They're progressing. The next step is for them to join the full practice," Sullivan said. "I think both of them are real close. That's why they're on the trip. That's encouraging news."
