Pens miss Staal
No one player can replace Jordan Staal, so the Penguins will try to fill in by committee.
Those were the Penguins' marching orders Saturday after it was learned that Staal will be out indefinitely following foot surgery to repair a sliced tendon.
"Matchup-wise it is a little bit different than what [I'd want]," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "Jordan was a guy that we'd put, on most occasions, against their best line or best centerman."
With Staal out, Bylsma said the Penguins will have to lean on Matt Cooke, Max Talbot, Craig Adams, and Pascal Dupuis. He also said that the top line of Sidney Crosby, Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz would see more time against Montreal's top line of Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, and Mike Cammalleri.
Staal won't just be missed on the third line but also in his role as the top penalty killer.
"We usually have a rotation of five guys on the PK," Adams said. "So if 'Staalsy' can't go we still have our four we can go with. We should be OK in that regard."
