CRANBERRY — Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse put the players through a training camp practice, complete with loser pushups and full ice drills.
In their first full practice since returning from Stockholm on Monday, the Penguins went full ice, full competition, including newly recalled Sam Poulin.
Also, somewhat awkwardly, Philip Tomasino, who was waived Tuesday but won’t clear until Wednesday at 2 p.m., was also on the ice.
Poulin acquitted himself well in the more-than-hour-long practice that used both ice surfaces at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. As part of the penalty kill, Poulin completed an outright theft from defenseman Erik Karlsson, as the defenseman initiated a breakout rush.
On the subsequent rush, Sidney Crosby raced into the offensive zone, only to be confronted by Poulin, and the PK cleared the puck.
Poulin’s NHL journey is far from certain, but he held his ground Wednesday. Muse also skated him on the third line with Tommy Novak and Ben Kindel.
To begin practice, Muse separated the team into two groups, one on each ice surface, and the teams engaged in a skills practice.
After about 45 minutes, the groups joined for full ice, 5v5 drills. In total, the practice ran close to 90 minutes, with only Poulin’s insertion the notable difference.
A few tempers flared through the lengthy practices, including Evgeni Malkin letting the power play have a few words for some bad decisions.
Penguins Lines
Connor Dewar-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Kevin Hayes-Evgeni Malkin-Anthony Mantha
Tommy Novak-Ben Kindel-Sam Poulin
Joona Koppanen-Blake Lizotte-Danton Heinen
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
Ryan Graves-Connor Clifton
Extra: Matt Dumba-Harrison Brunicke
Harrison Brunicke
Penguins rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke has been scratched for five consecutive games, which opens the door for the 19-year-old to be loaned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a one-time 14-day conditioning assignment.
It seems a decision has been made, kind of.
“I don’t think it’s my place to tell,” Brunicke said.
Muse also gave the no-answer answer.
“We have a plan for him, and we’ve been working through that plan for him. There’s been a lot of discussion with him and our plan. Continue to execute it,” Muse said. “There’s on ice, there’s off ice. There’s been video. There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that might not be evident if you just watch practice, but there is a plan, and I’m not going to get into any more details on that.”
Brunicke has played nine NHL games, and his next one will start his entry-level contract. The team has until its 40th game to make a final determination on Brunicke’s season.
The one thing that is increasingly evident is that the Penguins don’t want to send Brunicke back to Kamloops of the WHL.
But there’s a plan.
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Categorized: Penguins Practice