Photos courtesy Pittsburgh Penguins
When the Penguins take the ice tonight against the Vegas
Golden Knights, they’ll have a different look…in more than one way. There will be some lineup changes, and brand new uniforms.
Called the “Hometown Remix”, the new blue-themed specialty uniforms were previewed yesterday, with splashy new elements that display Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods and the Penguins’ history as the team celebrates its sixtieth season…and even polka dots, if you look closely enough.
The most important changes tonight will be who is wearing those uniforms. Forward Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kaedan Korczak were missing with undisclosed injuries, reportedly lower body, and both were labeled by coach Dan Muse as “day-to-day.” Muse also revealed that forward Elmer Soderblum has been re-designated as “week-to-week,” rather than day-to-day. He added that its for further evaluation, and not due to a setback.
Muse says injuries happen, and open doors for other players.
With Malkin unavailable and Bryan Rust already on long-term injured reserve, Tommy Novak moved from center on the third line to Sidney Crosby’s left wing on the top line. The second line featured Ben Kindel centering Andrei Kuzmenko and Egor Chinakhov, with Hendrix Lapierre centering the third line, and Ville Koivunen on the left wing and newly-recalled Justin Brazeau on the right wing. The fourth line remained the same: Blake Lizotte between Connor Dewar and Nick Robertson.
Novak also worked on the top power play unit.
Muse is comfortable with Tommy Novak switching places with Hendrix Lapierre and moving from center to wing.
Tonight’s game airs at six o’clock on 92.5 FM U92, with faceoff shortly after seven.
