After a three-day break, the Penguins are back in action tonight, taking on the Vancouver Canucks at PPG Paints Arena. It’s gravy boat night! Fans will be given a Penguins Zamboni® Gravy Boat presented by Giant Eagle and Market District just in time for Thanksgiving.
The Pens have lost three games in a row and eight of their last ten. With only 18 points, they are last in the Metro Division and are just a point ahead of Montreal, which is last in the Eastern Conference. The Canucks are tied for third in the Pacific Division, with 25 points.
Yesterday at Cranberry, the Pens welcomed newly-acquired forward Philip Thomasino for his first practice. He worked on Geno Malkin’s second line, but coach Mike Sullivan would not say whether he will land there tonight, or even if he will be on the ice at all.
Sullivan says team president and general manager Kyle Dubas is shaping a younger, faster roster, and Thomasino fits that mold.
Sullivan says Thomasino brings another offensive weapon to a team that is looking for scoring.
The Penguins were working on the forecheck during the workout yesterday.
The coach says playing aggressively in the offensive zone is an important part of overall team defense.
Forwards Blake Lizotte and Cody Glass were full-contact practice participants. Both have been on injured reserve with concussions.
In a surprise move, the Penguins yesterday placed forward Valtteri Puustinen on waivers. Seen as a potential core offensive player heading into the season, Puustinen has only one goal and one assist in ten games and has been a healthy scratch for 13 games. He can be claimed by another team until 2 PM today. If he is unclaimed, he can be sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Tonight’s game faces off at 7:30. It’s a 6:30 airtime on WCCS because of IUP basketball on U92.
