Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel missed Monday’s practice in Cranberry with an illness, coach Mike Sullivan said.
Ruhwedel is coming off his best game of the season during Saturday’s 5-3 road win against the Detroit Red Wings. He had a goal and an assist in that game. It was his first goal since Feb. 19.
In seven games this season, Ruhwedel has three points (one goal, two assists).
Sullivan indicated Ruhwedel was dismissed from practice as a precautionary measure. Forward Zach Aston-Reese and defenseman Jack Johnson have each battled illnesses as of late.
Notes:
• Goaltender Tristan Jarry was named the NHL’s second star of the week after posting back-to-back shutouts last week. He currently has a shutout sequence of 144:51.
• Injured defenseman Brian Dumoulin watched practice from near the benches while standing on crutches. He is expected to be sidelined until at least late January following surgery to repair lacerated tendons in his left ankle.
• The Penguins’ lines and pairs in practice were:
Jake Guentzel – Evgeni Malkin – Bryan Rust
Dominik Kahun - Jared McCann – Brandon Tanev
Zach Aston-Reese – Teddy Blueger – Dominik Simon
Alex Galchenyuk – Sam Lafferty – Stefan Noesen
Kris Letang – John Marino
Jack Johnson – Justin Schultz
Marcus Pettersson – Juuso Riikola
• The top power-play unit was composed of Guentzel, Letang, Malkin, Rust and Schultz. The second unit included Galchenyuk, Kahun, McCann, Pettersson and Riikola.
