Penguins defensemen Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang (above) are expected to return from injuries for tonight's game against the Rangers. Letang (shoulder) has missed nine games while Goligoski ("lower body") has missed six games.
With Goligoski and Letang returning, the team demoted defensemen Deryk Engelland and Ben Lovejoy to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. In nine games, Engelland recorded two points and was a minus-2. He dropped the gloves three separate times in his call-up. In eight games, Lovejoy recorded three points and was a plus-5.
On the other side of the ice, it looks like Stephen Valiquette will get the start in the Rangers' net instead of Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist was pulled in favor of Valiquette during a rough outing last night in Tampa Bay in which he gave up four goals on 22 shots. Valiquette is 2-2-0 with a 2.70 goals against average and .884 save percentage this season.
EN Says: It's obviously fantastic news to get Goligoski and Letang back. They were vital parts of the team's hot start to the season. Obviously, their return will help boost the struggling power play.
Engelland and Lovejoy each showed something during their call-ups. They were more than capable of handling the speed and pace of the game at the NHL level.
(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Posted
Nov 28 2009, 02:04 PM
by
Seth Rorabaugh