Penguins notebook: Lineups released for Sunday's split-squad games vs. Columbus

After three practices at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, the Pittsburgh Penguins play their first preseason games Sunday with split-squad contests against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The first game will be played at 1 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena, with the finale beginning at 7 p.m. in Columbus.

The Penguins announced their lineups for Sunday’s contests:

Game 1 in Pittsburgh:

Forwards: Marc Johnstone, Drew O’Connor, Alex Nylander, Andreas Johnsson, Peter Abbandonato, Matt Filipe, Evan Vierling, Sam Houde, Brayden Yager, Radim Zohorna, Matthew Soto, Dillon Hamaliuk, Matt Nieto.

Defensemen: Chad Ruhwedel, Libor Hajek, Andre Anania, Mark Friedman, Dmirtri Samokurov, P.O Joseph, Isaac Belliveau.

Goaltenders: Joel Blomqvist, Alex Nedeljkovic.

Game 2 in Columbus:

Forwards: Corey Andonovski, Vinnie Hinostroza, Joona Koppanen, Rem Pitlick, Sam Poulin, Jagger Joshua, Austin Wagner, Austin Rueschhoff, Colin White, Jonathan Gruden, Valtteri Puustinen, Avery Hayes.

Defensemen: Jack St. Ivany, Taylor Fedun, Ryan Shea, Mark Pysyk, Ty Smith, Justin Lee, Xavier Ouellet.

Goaltender: Taylor Gauthier, Magnus Hellberg.

Split coaching duties

Coach Mike Sullivan and the Penguins’ extended team staff cannot be in two places at once for the on-ice doubleheader.

As a result, much like he divided his club’s players into two groups, Sullivan will do the same among his coaches and staff for Sunday’s games.

Assistant coach Mike Velluci will coach the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, and associate coach Todd Reirden will lead the club on the road at Nationwide Arena.

“It’s a bit of a challenge because you have to kind of divide and conquer,” Sullivan said. “You have to split up your staffs: your coaching staff, your training staff, your medical staff and all of that.

“… We will take the same approach that we did last year. Mike Velluci will coach the home game, and Todd Reirden will coach the away game.”

Carter discusses role

By the end of last season, Jeff Carter had turned into persona non grata among the Penguins’ fan base.

Over 79 games, Carter contributed 13 goals with 16 assists but was prone to droughts of production.

From Jan. 5 to March 20, he managed just three goals and four assists. Not to mention, Carter was a team-worst minus-16.

This season, the 38-year-old Carter completes a two-year, $6.25-million deal signed in January 2022.

As for his own personal expectations — perhaps a return to 2021-22 form, in which he scored 19 goals with 26 assists — Carter declined to offer specifics.

“No, I don’t really do that. I never have,” he said. “I just try to go in and have the best season that I possibly can. Whatever that may be, that’s what I’ll do.”

However, he did speculate as to his role with the new-look Penguins.

A few days into training camp, Carter has skated at right wing on a line featuring Noel Acciari at center and Matt Nieto playing left wing.

Carter was deployed as the Penguins’ third-line center for the majority last season but was relegated to the fourth line, in addition to playing a handful of games on the wing, toward the end of the campaign.

While leaving room for a potential change of plans, Carter gets the impression he might factor into the equation on the wing as opposed to at center.

“I’m not sure,” Carter said. “It kind of looks that way, just from our skates in camp with Noel and (Nieto). I’m comfortable wherever. We’ll see what happens.”

New skating coaches named

The Penguins on Saturday announced the hiring of two new skating coaches: Mackenzie Braid and Jeff Murray. Murray will serve in an assistant capacity, and both coaches will work with the Penguins, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers.