Skate update--Jan. 15

James Neal, who missed the past two days of Penguins practice and is listed as day to day because of an unspecified injury, took part in the team's game-day skate and was in his normal right wing spot on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Jussi Jokinen. That makes it look promising that he will play.

In a somewhat curious move, the Penguins recalled rugged forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblod from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Letourneau-Leblond, 28, has one goal, one assist and 137 penalty minutes for Wilkes-Barre. He has spent most of his pro career in the AHL but has played in 40 NHL games with New Jersey, registering three assists and 101 penalty minutes.

Perhaps the Penguins have started to run out of options in terms of viable forwards they can promote from Wilkes-Barre. It's believed that Harry Zolnierczyk is getting close to needing waivers to move been the AHL and NHL. Others, such as Tom Kuhnhackl, Dominik Uher and Paul Thompson, might be considered not ready for the NHL. Bobby Farnham and Adam Payerl are, if we can generalize, something akin to less experienced versions of "PL3."

However, PL3 did not appear to be heavily involved in line rushes. He could just be insurance. His recall comes a day after the Penguins promoted forward Nick Drazenovic.

The Penguins put winger Brian Gibbons on injured reserve to make roster space for PL3. There are now seven forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender on IR.

Earlier, the same five injured players who have been skating as a group were on the ice with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar: defenseman Paul Martin and forwards Beau Bennett, Chuck Kobasew, Jayson Megna and Andrew Ebbett.,

The lines:

Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Brandon Sutter

Jussi Jokinen-Evgeni Malkin-James Neal

Tanner Glass-Nick Drazenovic-Craig Adams

Taylor Pyatt/Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond-Zach Sill-Deryk Engelland