NEW YORK -- Sidney Crosby, Tristan Jarry and Rickard Rakell will be game-time decisions for Game 7 of the Penguins' opening-round Stanley Cup playoffs matchup with the Rangers at Madison Square Garden Sunday night, Mike Sullivan told reporters Sunday morning.
Jarry took part in the Penguins' optional morning skate Sunday morning and took every single shot from the skaters that were out there. Louis Domingue and Alex D'Orio spent their ice-time at the opposite end of the action working with goalie coach Andy Chiodo.
Crosby and Rakell did not skate Sunday morning.
The following Penguins were on the ice for the optional skate: Jeff Carter, Brock McGinn, Danton Heinen, Drew O'Connor, Radim Zohorna, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel, Mark Friedman, Nathan Beaulieu, Jarry, Domingue and D'Orio.
"No, I won't," Sullivan said when asked if he would tell reporters who the Penguins' starting goalie would be.
If Jarry's workload during the skate was any indication, it will be him in between the pipes:
Sullivan wouldn't tip his hand when asked if Crosby had been cleared to return, reiterating that he will be a game-time decision.
MORE FROM THE SKATE:
• Sullivan announced that Brian Boyle, who left Game 6 after crushing Jacob Trouba behind the Rangers' net, is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. It appeared that his foot or leg got twisted up as Trouba fell.
"He's been a big part of our penalty kill all year, he's been a big part of our team. Brian's a great teammate, he's a good leader, he's a real good shot blocker. That's a loss for us, in the penalty kill in particular. He's been a big part of it," Sullivan said.
• Here are the rest of Sullivan's injury updates, in which Brian Dumoulin's status has not changed, as well as his thoughts on what the Penguins' struggling power play can do to find success:
"Part of our challenge, I think, as a coaching staff, is just trying to free them up a little bit. Free their minds up, give them an opportunity to just trust their instincts, and, for me, I think one of the solutions is just simplifying. Shooting the puck and creating some opportunity off of it. We know they're a very capable group. We know how much they care. A lot of it just boils down to execution, and I think if we simplify the game a little bit it'll help us."
• Don't read too much into Crosby not taking the option to skate Sunday morning. He was pushing himself at practice on Saturday without any clear limitations. He also rarely takes the option to skate the morning of games.
• One thing to monitor: Evgeni Malkin did not skate Sunday morning. He did not practice Saturday afternoon, either. Typically, players are required to skate once in between playoff games, whether that be a non-game-day practice or morning skate the following day.
Malkin did take a couple of big hits in Game 6 and looked to be in slight discomfort immediately after, although he did finish the game without any problems. I'd expect him to play in Game 7, regardless.
• Jason Zucker is obviously playing hurt. At times, there's a noticeable a gimp in his stride out on the ice. He's also been sitting on a stool in between shifts, rather than the Penguins' bench.
When Sullivan was asked about it, he responded: "That's the first time I knew that he sits on a stool."
Zucker, like Malkin, did not practice Saturday afternoon or skate Sunday morning.
