PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens head coach Mike Sullivan said he respects the league's decision, but felt it was a little heavy. His team will play the first of four games without Evgeni Malkin Tuesday at the Islanders after he was suspended for a high-stick on Sunday.
Sullivan did get a player back for the divisional matchup and a potential playoff clincher.
McGinn back
Gritty, do-everything forward Brock McGinn activated off injured reserve and will return to the lineup Tuesday night at the Islanders. The first-year Penguin working on a new third line with Teddy Blueger and Evan Rodrigues.
"We have good chemistry," McGinn said. "We both play similar styles. The more we play together, the more we learn off each other and build. It's a lot of fun playing with Teddy. Hopefully he enjoys it as well."
McGinn back since he was injured blocking a shot on March 11. He said it's just the consequence of what you have to do as a hockey player.
In 56 games, McGinn has 11 goals, seven assists and a pair of game-winning goals. He is also second among Penguins forwards in shorthanded time-on-ice per game.
Line Combinations
Here is how the Pens lines rolled Tuesday morning in New York per @PensInsideScoop.
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker-Jeff Carter-Rickard Rakell
Evan Rodrigues-Teddy Blueger-Brock McGinn
Danton Heinen-Brian Boyle-Kasperi Kapanen
Mike Matheson-Kris Letang
Brian Dumoulin-John Marino
Mark Friedman-Chad Ruhwedel
DeSmith in net
It's not a back-to-back situation, but Sullivan wants to give Casey DeSmith a chance to follow a good performance and give Tristan Jarry a rest.
"It's a little bit of both," Sullivan said. "Casey played really well the other night. Casey has gotten better with every game he's played here the last couple of months. We are obviously trying to manage Tristan's work load and this gives us the opportunity to do that."
In 20 games, DeSmith is 8-8 with a 2.89 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. The 30-year-old hasn't given up more than three goals a game in his last nine starts and held Nashville to a pair of goals on 35 shots.
