CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Nick Bjugstad will be a game-time decision, barring any setbacks, for Thursday's game against the Sabres in Buffalo, Mike Sullivan announced after Wednesday's practice at the Lemieux Complex.
"It's been a long process," Bjugstad said of his recovery from his core muscle surgery. "The training staff has stuck with me and thankfully I'm getting back out on the ice here. Hopefully I get cleared to play."
Bjugstad said the toughest part of his recovery has been the several times in which he believed he was close to returning, then he'd get a "tweak" and suffer a setback. After a bumpy road, it's looking like Bjugstad will finally make his return this week.
Bjugstad worked with the second penalty killing unit and skated on the third line in practice:
Jason Zucker -- Sidney Crosby -- Conor Sheary
Patrick Marleau -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Nick Bjugstad -- Jared McCann -- Patric Hornqvist
Evan Rodrigues -- Teddy Blueger -- Sam Lafferty
This was the second practice in which Bjugstad took line rushes with his teammates, and he's just grateful to be skating in a group again.
"It's been a lot of individual skates with (skills coach) Ty Hennes," Bjugstad said. "He's been unbelievable with me. It's been a long road, you learn a lot along the way. I'm just thankful to be with the guys and doing what I love here. If I could get out there tomorrow, I'd be very happy."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• The formal practice lasted about 30 minutes.
• Anthony Angello is week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained in the third period of Tuesday night's win. Angello finished the game and was in the locker room sitting in his stall after.
• Brandon Tanev, who missed Tuesday's game with an illness, did not practice. Sullivan said Tanev is feeling "much better" but was held out because he hasn't had much food in him.
• Zach Aston-Reese skated on his own with Hennes before practice.
• John Marino is still wearing the full shield, and probably will be for a little while longer. As I wrote in my story yesterday, he's really not a fan of the full shield.
• Jack Johnson was absent from practice. He left Tuesday night's game because his wife went into labor, and she had a baby boy. Johnson will make the trip to Buffalo with the team.
• Kris Letang shaved his beard clean off and cut his hair.
• The defense pairings were:
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- John Marino
Juuso Riikola -- Justin Schultz -- Chad Ruhwedel
• The top power play unit was Justin Schultz, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Jason Zucker.
• The second power play unit was Marino, Letang, Jared McCann, Patrick Marleau, and Patric Hornqvist.
• The top penalty killing unit was Chad Ruhwedel, Brian Dumoulin, Teddy Blueger, and Evan Rodrigues.
• The second penalty killing unit was Marcus Pettersson, Juuso Riikola, Sam Lafferty, and Bjugstad.
