GAME DAY REPORT: Joining the team were two key players who were absent from yesterday’s practice.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, fresh off their series opening 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday evening, were back on the ice this morning for their game day skate. Joining the team were two key players who were absent from yesterday’s practice.

Defenseman Trevor Daley and forward Bryan Rust both played big parts in the Penguins Stanley Cup championship last season, so suffice it to say that some eyebrows were raised when they missed practice yesterday. With both players taking the morning skate however, it appears as though they’ll be good to go when their team takes to the ice at PPG Paints Arena tonight for game 2 against the Blue Jackets. 

The news comes as a relief to Penguins fans who have already had to endure through injuries to the team’s top defenseman Kris Letang and starting goaltender Matt Murray. While Letang has been ruled out for a playoff return, there’s no telling when Murray could be back in the lineup. With these two critical pieces missing from their lineup, the Penguins will need to rely on solid depth players like Daley and Rust if they’re going to make a second consecutive Stanley cup run.