Several notable players are taking part in preseason action tonight for the Penguins, following Bryan Rust and Kris Letang’s appearances in Monday’s victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are also set to play Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings’ preseason team, according to team reports.
They’ll be joined by familiar names such as Rickard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov, Tommy Novak, Ilya Solovyov, Sam Girard, and Artūrs Šilovs. Ville Koivunen is making his return to game action for the first time since signing an eight-year contract extension last month.
Additionally, some prospects from Pensburgh’s top 25 under 25 list—including Markus and Liam Ruck, Mikhail Ilyin, Finn Harding, Bill Zonnon, and Tomas Galvas—will be on the ice. Newcomer Nick Robertson, playing his first game for the Penguins, and Rutger McGroarty, looking to secure a permanent NHL spot in this upcoming season, are also key players to watch.
However, McGroarty’s chances of making the final roster might have faced a setback after strong performances from Filip Hallander and Tristan Broz, along with a highlight-reel goal from Avery Hayes in Monday’s game.
The decisions about who makes the final 23-man roster are just part of the team’s preparations; they’re also experimenting with different special teams setups. One change saw Elmer Söderblom added to the penalty kill unit, though coach Dan Muse mentioned he hasn’t yet decided if Söderblom will continue in that role during the regular season.
From Monday’s win, notable highlights included early chemistry forming between Bryan Rust and offseason addition Andrei Kuzmenko, as well as promising play from goaltender Sergei Murashov, who could see his first full-time NHL role this season.
The biggest concern from Monday was the lower-body injury that sidelined Ben Kindel in the second period. Muse indicated Kindel was still being evaluated after the game, and fans will be hoping for good news before the Penguins’ next preseason game tonight at 7 p.m. ET against the Blue Jackets.
With just two preseason games remaining—Thursday versus Columbus and Saturday against Buffalo—fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the regular season, which begins next Wednesday against the Flyers.
Fan Take: This preseason action is crucial for fans to gauge the team’s emerging chemistry and see young prospects vie for their spot on the roster. It’s exciting because these games often reveal the future star players, giving hope for a successful season ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
