Penguins Report: 2/12/13

• Full update on Letang's status
• Letang, Niskanen updates
• Letang back
• Pic of the day
• Practice pics
• Crosby, Niskanen & Engelland spit knowledge
• PensTV interviews
• Best plays of last week
• Ruopp update
• Start the day

LOCKER ROOM SOUND

Sidney Crosby

Deryk Engelland

--Sam Kasan

SOUNDS HEARD AROUND THE ROOM



--Sam Kasan

PIC OF THE DAY


Danny "Banker" Kroll does work on Dupuis' skate

--Michelle Crechiolo

FULL SCOOP ON LETANG'S STATUS
“Felt pretty good,” he said following nearly two hours of skating. “It was the first time I’ve practiced with the team so I had a chance to battle in the corner. I stayed later to do extra. It felt pretty good.”

“Kris Letang had a full day,” head coach Dan Bylsma said. “We had some contact drills, we had some D-zone, so it was a pretty stressful day on a lower-body injury and he did pretty well.”

Full story here.



--Sam Kasan

LETANG, NISKANEN UPDATES
Head coach Dan Bylsma said that both players skated Monday and are progressing. He didn't say they were quite ready to return Wednesday, but also didn't rule them out.

Here is more...

On Niskanen and Letang:
When they do come back, they’ll both play. I don’t think there’s any mystery there. I think Matt Niskanen is 17 days into his 2-4 week (timeframe) and had two full practices with the team. He’s doing and progressing well. Hopefully that means he returns to play here soon. We’ll see how he responds today. Kris Letang had a full day today. We had some contact drills, we had some D-zone, so it was a pretty stressful day on a lower-body injury and he did pretty well. We’ll see where that is for both of them going into tomorrow’s game and the weekend.
 
On if they skated Monday:
They did both skate yesterday.
 
On if they could be game-time decisions for Wednesday:
I’m not going to put them there right now, but yes, it could be that tomorrow (they are game-time decisions). They’re both day-to-day right now, so it could be tomorrow that they’re game-time decisions.

--Michelle Crechiolo & Sam Kasan

PRACTICE PICS


Despres protects the house


Niskanen's mustache is coming in quite nicely


Letang back in black, er, blue


Kunitz and Vokoun share a Coke and a smile


Speaking of facial hair, Martin is all in on the goatee


Crosby and Dupuis


Martin and Bylsma discuss goatees


Neal proclaims his innocence


Kunitz throws a knuckle puck on net


--Michelle Crechiolo & Sam Kasan

PRACTICE INFO
Everyone on the Penguins roster participated, including injured defensemen Kris Letang and Matt Niskanen (lower body). It was Letang's first team practice since Feb. 7.

Update: Paul Martin remains on the point with the first PP unit. Niskanen and Letang worked with the second PP unit.



--Sam Kasan

PROSPECT REPORT
For this week's Prospect Report, we check in on Prince Albert's Harrison Ruopp.

--Sam Kasan

PLAYS OF THE WEEK
Before we start work on the new week, let's take a look back at the best plays from last week.

--Sam Kasan

START THE DAY
The Pens had Monday off. A much needed rest considering the amount of practice and hockey they've been handling lately. Pittsburgh has played 11 games in the last 18 days, and they've also practiced on non-game days as well. So the players get a much deserved rest.

However, it's back to work for players today with an 11 a.m. practice at CONSOL Energy Center. They'll host Ottawa Wednesday night before hitting the road for Winnipeg and Buffalo.


--Sam Kasan