1. Malkin, Hagelin out
Center Evgeni Malkin and winger Carl Hagelin will not play for the Pens in Game 1 of the Second Round series against Washington on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.
"Both of them will not play in Game 1," said head coach Mike Sullivan, who noted that Malkin will join the team in Washington, D.C. while Hagelin will remain in Pittsburgh.
Malkin and Hagelin skated on their own prior to the team's practice session.
Malkin suffered a lower-body injury during Game 5 of Pittsburgh's First Round matchup with Philadelphia and was absent for Game 6. Hagelin (upper-body) was injured in that Game 6 contest.
2. Trickledown
With Malkin and Hagelin both out of for Game 1 there will be a trickledown effect throughout the lineup.
"We've done it a couple of years now and we have guys that will step up and step into the lineup," said winger Phil Kessel when asked about dealing with injuries.
Riley Sheahan and Dominik Simon skated with Kessel during the team's Wednesday practice in place of Malkin and Hagelin respectively. Sheahan has worked with Kessel at various points throughout the season and the two really clicked in mid-late February.
"We've played together a little bit this year," said Kessel of Sheahan. "Whenever you get a chance to play with someone for an extended stretch it helps. I was able to play with him for 20 games or so. You build a little chemistry. He's a good player."
Simon played in his first career NHL postseason game when he suited up for Game 4 of the Pens' First Round series against Philadelphia. He posted an assist in 2 games while skating on a line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
Now, Simon could find himself working on a line with Kessel and Sheahan for Game 1.
"It's an unbelievable feeling to play with these (players)," Simon said. "You have to take advantage of it because they are the best in the world. It's still really fun to play with them."
A lot can change over the next 36 hours. But if Simon is called upon to step into that line, he'll be ready.
"I'll just play my best and try to play quick," Simon said. "Phil and Riley are unbelievable players. I'll try to do my best."
3. Workflow
Malkin (lower-body) and Hagelin (upper-body) were the only missing players from practice. The Pens used the following workflow at practice…
Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Simon-Sheahan-Kessel
Sheary-Brassard-Rust
Aston-Reese-Rowney-Kuhnhackl
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Oleksiak-Ruhwedel
(Hunwick)
Guentzel filled in on the top power-play unit for Malkin. He and Crosby took turns working the halfwall and goal line.
