Alex Galchenyuk will be a game-time decision for the Penguins' season opener against the Sabres Thursday night, Mike Sullivan announced after the team's morning skate.
"(Galchenyuk) feels really good," Sullivan said. "We'll visit with the trainers, but it looks encouraging. He'll be a game-time decision."
Galchenyuk said much of the same when he was asked about his status.
"I feel good, confident." he said. "Just talk to the trainers, and I'm pretty sure I'm ready to go."
Galchenyuk practiced for the first time on Wednesday after being sidelined for a week with what Sullivan called a "nagging" lower-body injury.
In both Wednesday's practiced and Thursday's morning skate, Galchenyuk was on the left wing of the Penguins' second line, skating alongside Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev.
"We're definitely more comfortable if we practice or skate together," Galchenyuk said of adjusting to his new team. "I'm sure it will take a few games, but you also never know. It could be from the first shift. That's what we're hoping and we're keeping a positive mindset."
THE ESSENTIALS
THE SESSION
• The Penguins' skate was very short, only lasting about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Matt Murray was the first goaltender off the ice, an indication that he will likely start.
• With the exceptions of Bryan Rust and Zach Trotman who are both on long-term injured reserve, everyone was in attendance for the skate.
• The first power play unit was Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, and Patric Hornqvist.
"They're both very good, they're just different in how they go about it," Sullivan said of Guentzel and Hornqvist's roles on the power play. Jake has a unique ability to play in that traffic area. For a guy that's not overly big or strong, he just finds the quiet ice in the traffic. He has that sixth sense that allows him to be effective in that area. And he plays with a lot of courage. Both of those guys do. Horny is more like a bull in a China closet. He's just going to make a mess of it in front of the net and make the goalie's life miserable. And so they're a little bit different in how they go about it. But they're both very effective."
• The Penguins' second power play unit was Marcus Pettersson, Justin Schultz, Galchenyuk, Nick Bjugstad, and Domink Kahun.
• "We're excited to get going," Crosby said of tonight. "It's been a long offseason, going through camp, and that kind of thing. It'll be good to get going here. ... Our urgency and desperation should be there. We're going to be motivated after the way we finished last year. I think the guys who were here last year combined with the new guys, the energy that they're going to bring, it's a good combination."
THE OTHER SIDE
• The Sabres' skate lasted about 45 minutes.
• Carter Hutton will start in goal for the Sabres.
THE COMBINATIONS
• The Penguins used the following lines and pairings:
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Patric Hornqvist
Alex Galchenyuk -- Evgeni Malkin -- Brandon Tanev
Jared McCann -- Nick Bjugstad -- Dominik Kahun
Zach Aston-Reese -- Teddy Blueger -- Dominik Simon
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Jack Johnson -- Justin Schultz
Marcus Pettersson -- Erik Gudbranson
Juuso Riikola -- John Marino/Chad Ruhwedel
• And for the visiting Sabres:
Victor Olofsson -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner -- Marcus Johansson -- Vladimir Sobotka
Jimmy Vesey -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Conor Sheary
Zemgus Girgensons -- Johan Larsson -- Kyle Okposo
Rasmus Dahlin -- Colin Miller
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Marco Scandella -- Henri Jokiharju
THE SCHEDULE
Faceoff tonight is 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena, where Dave, Dejan, Sunday and I will have your coverage. The Penguins will practice in Cranberry tomorrow at noon.
THE COVERAGE
Visit our Penguins team page for everything.
