The Pittsburgh Penguins could see the return of two impact forwards to the lineup very soon.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh is set to go on the road to play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, and forwards Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari could make their return to the lineup.<\/p>\n
Brazeau has been out since Oct. 30, while Acciari has been out of the lineup since Nov. 3 due to injuries. However, both forwards were full participants in Wednesday\u2019s practice, and Penguins head coach Dan Muse said they will travel with the team and could return to the lineup on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to travel with us (for the two-game road trip to Tampa and Dallas),\u201d Muse said<\/a> on Wednesday. \u201cToday was obviously a big step there for them, just in their return to play and being out there with the team and full contact. Both guys looked good, so they\u2019re getting close. I don\u2019t think (they\u2019ll return) for tomorrow, but they are getting close.\u201d<\/p>\n Brazeau has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points in 12 games this season for the Penguins. Acciari, meanwhile, has three assists in 13 games. Brazeau played on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha, and the veteran was glad that Muse had trusted him in a bigger role.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cEarly on, there were stretches where I was able to really get to my game. I knew I could kind of be that player,\u201d Brazeau said<\/a>. \u201cI mean, coming into the year, I wouldn\u2019t have said I would have been a point per game guy. But I think just the belief that I can play and be a good player, not just kind of a fourth-line guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether or not Brazeau will return to that spot is to be seen. But the good news for the Penguins is that he and Acciari could be back in the lineup on Sunday.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh is off to a 13-7-5 start and is holding onto the final Wild Card spot.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n