Penguins' Alex Galchenyuk is a 'game-time decision' vs. Sabres
Penguins forward Alex Galchenyuk is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday’s season-opening contest against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena. He missed the bulk of the preseason due to an undisclosed injury.
“He feels really good,” said head coach Mike Sullivan. “We’ll visit with the trainers but it looks encouraging. He’ll be a game-time decision.”
Galchenyuk, who was limited to one preseason game, worked on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev during the morning skate.
“It’s just excitement,” said Galchenyuk, an offseason acquisition. “Be as positive as you can. The home opener. Come in and play that first game in a Penguins jersey. I wouldn’t call it nerves, just a lot of excitement. I can’t wait to get started.”
The team’s lines and pairs during the skate were:
59 Jake Guentzel – 87 Sidney Crosby – 72 Patric Hornqvist
18 Alex Galchenyuk – 71 Evgeni Malkin – 13 Brandon Tanev
19 Jared McCann – 27 Nick Bjugstad – 24 Dominik Kahun
12 Dominik Simon – 53 Teddy Blueger – 46 Zach Aston-Reese
8 Brian Dumoulin – 58 Kris Letang
3 Jack Johnson – 4 Justin Schultz
28 Marcus Pettersson - 44 Erik Gudbranson
Reserve defensemen John Marino, Juuso Riikola and Chad Ruhwedel worked on a “fourth pair.”
Matt Murray is scheduled to start in goal for the Penguins.
The Sabres’ lines and pairings were:
68 Victor Olofsson – 9 Jack Eichel – 23 Sam Reinhart
53 Jeff Skinner – 90 Marcus Johansson – 17 Vladimir Sobotka
13 Jimmy Vesey – 37 Casey Mittelstadt – 43 Conor Sheary
28 Zemgus Girgensons – 22 Johan Larsson – 21 Kyle Okposo
19 Jake McCabe – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
26 Rasmus Dahlin – 33 Colin Miller
6 Marco Scandella – 10 Henri Jokiharju
Goaltender Carter Hutton is expected to state for the Sabres.
The game is scheduled to start at 7:12 p.m.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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