CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Teddy Blueger's return to the lineup will have to wait until Thursday, at the earliest, when the Penguins host the Kings at PPG Paints Arena.
Following an optional practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex here in Cranberry Sunday afternoon, Mike Sullivan said Blueger, who has been out for a couple of weeks with an upper-body injury, will not travel with the team to Montreal for the Penguins' Monday night matchup with the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Blueger's status has not changed.
Over the past two days Blueger has skated in a regular yellow jersey, which is seemingly a step in the right direction after skating in non-contact fashion, but that might simply be due to both skates being optional on Saturday and Sunday.
Taylor Haase overheard Blueger and skills coach Ty Hennes chatting on the ice before Saturday's morning skate, and Blueger said he felt "fine" Friday after practice, but mentioned that Thursday was the best he had felt at any point during his rehab process.
When Blueger spoke with the media earlier in the week, he was visibly upset to be missing the start of the season and said that he was frustrated with his return-to-play process.
We should know more on Wednesday about Blueger's availability against the Kings. The Penguins have a scheduled day off Tuesday following the game in Montreal before returning for practice the next day at PPG Paints Arena.
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Here are the players who took the option to practice: Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Rickard Rakell, Jason Zucker, Bryan Rust, Kasperi Kapanen, Blueger, Josh Archibald, Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, P.O Joseph, Chad Ruhwedel, Casey DeSmith.
• Sullivan took the option not to skate, as well. Todd Reirden, Mike Vellucci and Hennes ran the very informal practice.
• Joseph is really looking forward to playing in his hometown for the first time tomorrow night in Montreal. He used to go to tons of Canadiens games as a kid, and even got to be the flag bearer for Game 6 during the Penguins' 2010 playoff series against the Canadiens:
"I think it's going to be a lot of emotion," Joseph said following the optional practice.
• I asked Joseph if he felt more comfortable Saturday against the Lightning than he did Thursday against the Coyotes, because he sure seemed to be.
"Yeah, I think I just decided to play with my instincts a little bit more," he said. "Not to be nervous was kind of helpful there, but I think I just wanted the big challenge of playing against a great team like that, and I've just embraced it and went on with it."
• Letang was out of the locker room by the time the media was allowed in Saturday following the Penguins' victory, but I had the chance to catch him after practice Sunday for his thoughts on his -- and the team's -- hot start to the season.
"I think when we apply pressure offensively and we manage the puck the right way, it doesn't allow teams to get to their game. We're supposed to be a team that has a relentless pursuit, a lot of pressure. It's tough for teams when they have that much pressure on them to make plays and create chances. It's been a good collective effort by the entire team."
As for his individual performance though ...
"We're two games in, so I'm not gonna start thinking about that," he laughed when I asked if his game is at the best point it has been in some time. "I'm just going to try and keep improving and get better. It's early stages, but we have to keep getting better and better."
• Taylor is headed to Montreal for Monday's game against the Canadiens, 7 p.m. She'll have your coverage for that one.
