After today's morning skate, the Penguins ruled both Max Talbot and Pascal Dupuis out of the lineup for tonight's game against the Washington Capitals.
Talbot wasn't able to make it through the skate, while Dupuis' eye remains mostly swollen shut. Obviously, Duper can't go in that circumstance.
The absence of both Mad Max and Dupuis forced the Penguins to recall two forwards from their Baby Penguins' farm club in Wilkes-Barre.
Dustin Jeffrey and Nick Johnson got the call, and both are expected to be in the lineup tonight.
Jeffrey played 14 games with the big club last season and acquitted himself fairly well, scoring a goal, adding 2 helpers and not looking noticeably out of place. While Jeffrey has shown some offensive skill at the American Hockey League level -- witness his 5th place standing in the AHL scoring race this season with 13 goals and 43 points in 39 games -- he's not expected to fill a scoring role in the NHL.
Instead, Jeffrey -- 21, and a 6th round draft pick in 2007 -- will likely see 4th line action and minutes tonight, as he's counted on to use his big body, be sound defensively and not make mistakes.
On the other hand, Nick Johnson, 24, may be looked upon to contribute on the scoresheet.
This will be Johnson's NHL debut, and he may be the most well-rounded, NHL-ready prospect in the Penguins' system.
Johnson was a 3rd round pick back in 2004 who has been biding his time and slowly moving up the organization's prospect ladder. This year, he has 22 points in 26 games for Wilkes-Barre.
Johnson may see time on the top two lines tonight, since that's where Talbot and Dupuis had been playing for the most part. Personally, I'm anxious to see what the kid's got at this level. He deserved the next call-up, so I'm glad he was one of the guys summoned.
We'll see how the 'kids' fare.
Also on the injury front, it looks as if defenseman Sergei Gonchar will be in tonight's lineup.
Let's Go Pens!
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