In a short period of time, Olli Maatta may find himself going from the injured list to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ doghouse.
It sounds like Mike Sullivan wasn’t particularly happy with Maatta’s performance in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that might prompt Maatta to be replaced by Justin Schultz.
That’s not the only blueline situation to watch, either, as Brian Dumoulin apparently avoided any major injury from that check by Lightning forward Ondrej Palat.
Coach Sullivan says he expects Brian Dumoulin to be available for Game 2. pic.twitter.com/vXvyOcqewR
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 15, 2016
D-pairs in #Pens practice this morning:
— Josh Getzoff (@JG_PxP) May 15, 2016
Dumoulin-Letang
Daley-Lovejoy
Cole-Schultz
Pouliot-Maatta
#penguins Olli Maatta could sit tomorrow's game. Justin Schultz could take his spot. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 15, 2016
Sullivan wasn’t happy with Maatta’s positioning on this Alex Killorn 1-0 goal from Game 1:
Will that be enough to get the young defenseman benched? We’ll see. If nothing else, the Penguins have some options.
Oh, and Sullivan isn’t being coy about the Penguins’ starting goalie any longer.
Coach confirms Matt Murray will start in Game 2: "He has a maturity level beyond his years and responds to adversity really well."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 15, 2016