CALGARY, Alberta — The hockey world was denied a hot storyline, but Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse had a good reason for starting goalie Stuart Skinner Wednesday against the Calgary Flames and not giving Skinner a homecoming Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.

And it had nothing to do with avoiding the spectacle of Skinner returning to Edmonton, where he is from, and facing the team he backstopped to a pair of Stanley Cup Finals.

Muse gave Skinner the nod because he is taking the top spot in the goalie pecking order.

“I think both guys have been playing really well,” said Muse. “I think with Stu, just based on his play, and his record coming off the break, and we decided going into the front end of the back-to-back–we felt he earned the right.”

Skinner has been excellent since the NHL’s holiday break ended, Dec. 27, winning five of his six starts. Skinner’s only loss was a 1-0 hard-luck defeat against the Boston Bruins.

Skinner also earned the victory Monday when the Penguins beat the Seattle Kraken, 6-3, at Climate Pledge Arena.

It can be noted that by starting Skinner Wednesday, Muse has also set up a rotation in which Arturs Silovs does not face his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, Sunday.

Kris Letang

Muse noted that Erik Karlsson’s status has not changed, and he remains out of the lineup despite practicing Tuesday.

However, when discussing the status of defenseman Kris Letang, Muse intimated there is an ongoing process and more evaluations and decisions to be made.

“With Letang, we’re still evaluating and making some decisions,” Muse said. “So, the lineup will go out later (today).”

Letang skated briefly on Wednesday morning.

Muse’s words could be interpreted in contrasting ways, that Letang might be available to play, and that Letang could be out for longer.

Ben Kindel

Hockey Canada used Kindel’s arrival in Calgary to present him with an overdue championship ring.

Kindel was a member of Team Canada’s world champion U-18 team, which won the IIHF World Championships last April/May.

In five games, Kindel had one goal and six assists in the gold medal effort.

Tags: ben kindel erik karlsson Kris Letang Penguins Practice Pittsburgh Penguins

Categorized: Penguins Notebook