Morning skate report: Pens vs. Sens

The Penguins return from the All-Star break tonight with a 7 p.m. game against the Ottawa Senators. 

It sounds like veteran winger Chris Kunitz will return to the lineup, but that is certainly not set in stone yet. He still needs to be cleared by the team’s medical staff in order to return. 

“I feel good. Still have to talk to the Docs to get cleared. Hopefully there’s no setback and I’m all ready to go tonight,” said Kunitz. 

Of Note:

*All-stars Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin were back on the ice for morning skate after getting yesterday off - Letang as part of ongoing injury management, and Malkin with a maintenance day. 

Letang on his experience in Music City: ”I mean it was fun, the city itself, the way they made the whole weekend was pretty great. The game was fun, it was fun to be a part of it”.

*The Penguins will play Eastern Conference opponents 29 of their 34 final games in the second half.

“The encouraging aspect of looking forward is we have control over our destiny,” said coach Mike Sullivan. “From that regard our players are excited about that. Having said that I think it’s important we don’t get ahead of ourselves and start talking about divisional games.”