On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Pittsburgh Penguins: Coach Mike Sullivan on Sidney Crosby: “Sid skated this morning. He is in the process of rehabbing. We’ll leave it at that. It’s a day-to-day process.”
Dave Molinari: Skating doesn’t guarantee that Crosby has received medical clearance to resume playing soon or that he’s even close.
On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen: Defenseman Erik Karlsson was held out of the third period last night because of his injured foot for precautionary reasons.
“He could have come back, but we opted to keep him out,” said coach Guy Boucher after the game.”
When asked if there is a chance that Karlsson could miss Saturday’s game, Boucher said:
“Not right now.”
Karlsson has been playing with two hairline fractures in his foot and may have aggravated it after a collision with Chris Kreider where he hit his heal off the boards.
On the Anaheim Ducks …
Curtis Zupke: Coach Randy Carlyle would only say that Patrick Eaves, Ondrej Kase and Kevin Bieksa are day-to-day. Kase is expected to get further evaluation.
On the Nashville Predators …
Thomas Willis of NHL.com: Forward Craig Smith took another step to returning to the lineup after he took part in their full practice yesterday. He’s been out since Game 3 of the first round with a lower-body injury.
The Predators are also without forwards Kevin Fiala (broken femur) and Pontus Aberg (upper-body).
On what Smith brings if he returns.
“It would be huge,” goaltender Pekka Rinne said of Smith re-entering the lineup. “Everybody knows Smitty, all the tools that he brings with his speed, with his explosiveness. Great shot, maybe brings more offense, but we’ll see… He’s a guy that would bring a lot of speed and things like that, which will be beneficial to St. Louis.”