The Penguins open a long road trip tonight. Paul Steigerwald has a Game One preview.
After the stop in Chicago tonight, the Pens take off for Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. Then they’re in Vegas on Saturday and Salt Lake City on Monday.
Coach Dan Muse continues to shuffle his lineups. He’s had a different 23 skaters on the ice for all six games so far this season. He says the players will determine who he slots in the lineup each game.
Muse says he is more likely to experiment with player combinations early in the season, especially with some guys coming back from injury.
Injured defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk will not be with the team in Chicago tonight, but Muse says he may rejoin them during the trip. van Riemsdyk has a lower-body injury.
The Penguins made another trade yesterday, acquiring defenseman Ryan Johnson from Buffalo in exchange for defensemen Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch. All three players have spent the early portion of the season in the AHL. Johnson was the Sabres’ number one draft choice in 2019. He’s played 47 games in the NHL and has seven assists. He will join the Penguins’ NHL roster.
