Penguins Practice: Team Works Blue, Lines Won't Stick

The Pittsburgh Penguins practiced Friday with coach Dan Muse signaling that the successful line combinations from Thursday may not hold. Evgeni Malkin was absent from practice due to illness, and Muse said he couldn’t confirm whether Malkin would be available Saturday when the Penguins host the Nashville Predators. Sam Girard and Egor Chinakhov also sat out and remain day-to-day. Muse downplayed any unique chemistry from Thursday’s efficient performance, arguing the team had “pairs” who had played together at different times and that the urgency after a four-game road trip helped drive results. Newcomer Rutger McGroarty played his first game of the season, while Hendrix Lapierre returned after a healthy scratch.