CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP (TNS) – Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Olli Maatta each participated in practice Monday at the team’s workout facility in Cranberry.
But their status for Game 1 of the Penguins’ first-round playoff series with the New York Rangers is unknown.
Coach Mike Sullivan was brief on any health updates and simply said most injured players were “day to day.”
Fleury has missed the past five games because of a concussion, his second of the season. Fleury rotated in and out of drills along with fellow goaltenders Jeff Zatkoff and Tristan Jarry.
“One day at a time,” Fleury said. “This was my first practice, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Maatta has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury March 24. He primarily practiced on a “fourth” defensive pairing with Derrick Pouliot.
“I felt good out there,” Maatta said. “It was the first practice with the team. I had no problems. We’ll see how it goes.”
Goaltender Matt Murray (undisclosed), center Evgeni Malkin (undisclosed) and right wingers Bryan Rust (undisclosed) and Beau Bennett (right shoulder) each skipped practice. Murray was injured during Saturday’s regular season finale in Philadelphia when he was struck in the head by Flyers left winger Brayden Schenn.
Malkin has been sidelined since March 11 due to a suspected left wrist or hand injury. Rust has missed the past six games, while Bennett’s recurring injury sidelined him for the final two games of the regular season.
