Penguins Make Major Lineup Changes due to Key Injuries

The Pittsburgh Penguins can't seem to catch a break. On top of the Jake Guentzel injury, Bryan Rust was announced week-week with an injury on top of their awful play as of late keeping them out of a playoff spot. Despite their ambition to crawl back in, there is only so much this roster can do. The Penguins have bumped someone up due to the injury.

Reilly Smith Bumped Up On Crosby Line

Pens forward Reilly Smith received the benefit of the awful Rust injury, after being called up to the first line to play with captain Sidney Crosby and Richard Rakell.

Tristan Jarry will start tonight, making it his 3rd straight start as the Penguins kick off their western conference trip versus the Vancouver Canucks.


No lineup change as for their defensive core with the lineups being projected as the following:

P.O. Joseph – Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson – Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves – Chad Ruhwedel

Their forward lineups are projected to have some changes, per the Hockey News:

Reilly Smith – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell

Drew O'Connor – Evgeni Malkin –
Valtteri Puustinen

Emil Bemstrom – Lars Eller – Jesse Puljujarvi

Jansen Harkins – Noel Acciari – Jeff Carter

We will see how these changes work out as the Penguins face the Canucks.

More to come

As read on: Hockey News - Injured Starter Brings Changes to Penguins Lineup