GAME DAY REPORT: Pens injury update ahead of Game 4

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan spoke with the media ahead of Game 4

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Published 6 years ago
GAME DAY REPORT: Pens injury update ahead of Game 4
Keystone Press

Pittsburgh won’t be getting any extra help Tuesday night in Columbus, as the Penguins seek a first round sweep of the Blue Jackets in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan spoke with the media ahead of Game 4 about the status of Pittsburgh’s injured players. “They are all rehabbing,” Sullivan confirmed, but unfortunately: “There's nothing pending that I can offer you that is a significant update”.

That means Chris KunitzCarl HagelinChad Ruhwedel, and goalie Matt Murray will all be absent from the lineup tonight.

Fortunately, Pittsburgh has a strangle-hold on the series, with a 3-0 lead over Columbus.

That’s not to say the Penguins haven’t been missing their injured players, and their absences may become more obvious as an increasingly desperate Blue Jackets team will pull out all the stops to avoid another playoff loss at home.

Look no further than Game 3, a wild 5-4 affair that the Penguins only managed to win in Overtime.

Murray was sidelined in practice before the first playoff game, and veteran Stanley Cup Champion Marc-Andre Fleury has been mostly superb for the Pens, confirming Pittsburgh management’s decision to hang on to Fleury instead of trading him as the right decision. Murray is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury.

While the Penguins haven’t had any trouble scoring this series, the return of gritty goal-scorers Kunitz and Hagelin will be welcome at any time. Depth defenseman Ruhwedel will also add some blueline depth when healthy. All three players are also listed as day-to-day with lower body injuries.

Columbus will stop at nothing to keep their post-season alive after dropping three straight in this best-of-seven series.

Game 4 between the the Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins will be played in Columbus tonight, Tuesday April 18th.



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