Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson took to the ice prior to his team’s morning skate Tuesday in Cranberry.
Sidelined since the start of training camp due to an undisclosed injury, Karlsson skated for the first time since Sept. 24. He has yet to participate in a formal practice session or morning skate but Sullivan labeled Karlsson’s progress on Tuesday in upbeat terms.
“(Tuesday) was really encouraging,” Sullivan said. “That’s a big step forward.
“Certainly, today was a good day.”
The Penguins are scheduled to open the regular season with a home contest against the New York Rangers on Oct. 9. Sullivan maintains optimism Karlsson will be ready by that point.
“The players of Erik’s stature, in my experience, they don’t tend to need as many repetitions to get up to speed,” Sullivan said. “If they’re not quite as sharp (or) not at the very top of their game, they’re still pretty good and they can help you win. From that standpoint, we’ll get (Karlsson) up to speed in due time.”
Notes:
• Penguins forward Blake Lizotte and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic continue to be evaluated for undisclosed injuries.
Lizotte was struck in the face by a puck while sitting on the bench during a preseason game in Sudbury, Ont. on Sunday. Then on Monday, Nedeljkovic suffered a suspected right leg injury during a goalmouth scramble early in a contest at Detroit.
• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is scheduled start and complete Tuesday’s home game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena.
In one game this preseason, Jarry has no record, a 3.80 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.
Reserve Filip Larsson is scheduled to serve as Jarry’s backup.
• The Penguins’ lines and pairings during their morning skate were:
72 Anthony Beauvillier – 87 Sidney Crosby – 17 Bryan Rust
8 Michael Bunting – 71 Evgeni Malkin – 67 Rickard Rakell
2 Rutger McGroarty – 13 Kevin Hayes – 19 Cody Glass
44 Jonathan Gruden – 11 Vasily Ponomarev – 41 Ville Koivunen
24 Matt Grzelcyk – 58 Kris Letang
28 Marcus Pettersson – 45 Harrison Brunicke
38 Owen Pickering – 4 Nate Clurman
• Defenseman Filip Kral and forward Joona Koppanen served as a “fourth pairing.”
• The top power-play unit included Crosby, Letang, Malkin, Rakell and Rust. The second unit involved Beauvillier, Bunting, Grzelcyk, Hayes and McGroarty.
• Via social media, the Red Wings announced the players they will send to Pittsburgh
Forwards – Carson Bantle, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Alex Chiasson, Nate Danielson, Sheldon Dries, Cross Hanas, Hunter Johannes, Amadeus Lombardi, Tyler Motte, Elmer Soderblom, Joe Veleno, Austin Watson
Defensemen – Justin Holl, Albert Johansson, William Lagesson, Antti Tuomisto, Eemil Viro, William Wallinder
Goaltenders – Carter Gylander, Ville Husso
