"It's great. It's been a struggle here to try to stay healthy the last few months," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "We're getting some guys back in our lineup, slowly but surely. Hopefully, we can put players in the positions that we envisioned them to be in. I think when we have a healthy lineup, we're pretty competitive hockey team.
"So hopefully, we can stay healthy. And as we get these guys back in the mix, we'll see what we got. But we're certainly encouraged."
Tristan Jarry took part in a full team practice for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury ahead of the bye week/All-Star break. He had also gotten on the ice during Pittsburgh's optional morning skate ahead of their game versus Colorado on Tuesday.
"I was in a limited capacity today, so it was just good to be out there with the guys," said Jarry, with Sullivan saying they tried to control the environment he was in. "It's tough when you're injured and tough to be away from the team. It's nice, and a step in the right direction when I'm out with them."
The Penguins netminder has missed 11 of the last 13 games due to injury. He suffered a lower-body injury in the Winter Classic on Jan. 2 at Fenway Park, which kept him out of the lineup for seven straight contests.
After returning and collecting three points for the Penguins - backstopping the team to a win over Ottawa and overtime loss to New Jersey - Jarry had been set to make his third straight start on Jan. 24 versus Florida.
He participated in the team's full morning skate, and Sullivan confirmed that he would be in goal. But after Jarry arrived at the rink that night, it was determined he wouldn't be available to play.
The team made the decision to keep him out until after the Penguins returned from their break, with Sullivan saying they felt like it would be productive time for Jarry to be at his best whenever he was ready to return. There's still no timetable on that, but it's encouraging that he was out with the group today.
"I think obviously, having the bye week at that time was very helpful for me," Jarry said. "I was able to get some good training in, some good rehab. I think that'll make me stronger and I'll hopefully be back quicker from that."
Jan Rutta also took part in the session. The defenseman last played on Jan. 14 in Carolina, where he was able to finish the game.
Afterward, it was determined that his upper-body injury would keep him out longer-term, and Rutta was placed on long-term injured reserve. Since he has to remain out for at least 10 games and 24 days, Rutta isn't eligible to return until the final game of this trip, on Tuesday in San Jose.
The Penguins stuck with the same lines they used for their first game coming out of the break, a 2-1 overtime victory over the Avalanche.
Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
McGinn-Carter-Kapanen
Poehling-Blueger-Archibald (O'Connor rotated in)
Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Petry
Joseph-Ruhwedel
Friedman-Rutta skated as an extra pairing.
