One-game suspensions handed down Tuesday by NHL hockey operations to wingers Chris Kunitz and Steve Downie will, if nothing else, change the look of this first-round Stanley Cup playoff series between the Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Neither Kunitz nor Downie is eligible for Game 4 tonight at St. Pete Times Forum, forcing their respective coaches to use different lineups for the first time in the series.
The Penguins likely will turn to left wing Eric Tangradi, a promising power forward that has played only once since Feb. 11, when he was concussed in a loss at the New York Islanders.
Tangradi's lone game since then was the regular-season finale at Atlanta, though he impressed coach Dan Bylsma in that contest ? and early in the season.
"One of the things he did very well was immediately establish his presence in front of the net," Bylsma said. "His puck skills are good around the net, but they're also good down low and on the wall."
Tangradi, the organization's top forward prospect prior to this season, conceivably could boost a Penguins' power play that is 0 for 15 through three games. Bylsma said Tangradi "compares very high" to any current Penguins player as a "net-front guy."
The loss of Kunitz is a double-edged dagger for the Penguins. He was the leading healthy goal scorer entering the playoffs, and he also is a penalty killer.
Even without Downie, who scored 22 goals two seasons ago, the Lightning can turn to proven scorers such as centers Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos, and wingers Simon Gagne and Martin St. Louis.
The Lightning recalled Blair Jones and Mattias Rittola from AHL affiliate Norfolk. However, coach Guy Boucher said he was not against dressing an extra defenseman.
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Neither Kunitz nor Downie is eligible for Game 4 tonight at St. Pete Times Forum, forcing their respective coaches to use different lineups for the first time in the series.
The Penguins likely will turn to left wing Eric Tangradi, a promising power forward that has played only once since Feb. 11, when he was concussed in a loss at the New York Islanders.
Tangradi's lone game since then was the regular-season finale at Atlanta, though he impressed coach Dan Bylsma in that contest ? and early in the season.
"One of the things he did very well was immediately establish his presence in front of the net," Bylsma said. "His puck skills are good around the net, but they're also good down low and on the wall."
Tangradi, the organization's top forward prospect prior to this season, conceivably could boost a Penguins' power play that is 0 for 15 through three games. Bylsma said Tangradi "compares very high" to any current Penguins player as a "net-front guy."
The loss of Kunitz is a double-edged dagger for the Penguins. He was the leading healthy goal scorer entering the playoffs, and he also is a penalty killer.
Even without Downie, who scored 22 goals two seasons ago, the Lightning can turn to proven scorers such as centers Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos, and wingers Simon Gagne and Martin St. Louis.
The Lightning recalled Blair Jones and Mattias Rittola from AHL affiliate Norfolk. However, coach Guy Boucher said he was not against dressing an extra defenseman.
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
