WBS Penguins Practice Update 4/13/11

Tim Wallace has returned! But will he be ready for Game 1 Friday?

Tim Wallace was back on the ice this morning when the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins took to the ice for practice at the Coal Street Rink. While he didn't participate in any contact drills, Wallace looked sharp and didn't show any signs of pain from his lower body injury.



Viktor Ekbom didn't practice today either. He came out for a few minutes to watch the boys practice and sign a few autographs but I didn't get a chance to ask him how he was doing. Hopefully I'll see him tomorrow.

John Curry didn't skate today but I saw him walking around and he said he feels fine and that his injury is only minor. He should be ready to go Friday as the backup to Brad Thiessen.

Steve Wagner, who has been skating at practice, took part in all of the team's contact drills today and seems most likely to be ready for Friday, compared to the rest of the banged up bodies.

Bryan Lerg came out early by himself in shorts and a jersey (no pads) and skated around for a few minutes. He glided around the ice and tried some quick starts and stops to test out his lower body injury. He didn't look too happy when he came off the ice and it was confirmed by him not practicing with the team today.

Hynes has said that he hopes all the injured guys can return Friday. I hope I'll be able to get better details on who will be in or not tomorrow morning when the team is back at it again for practice.

Bill Guerin was at the rink today and worked with Tim Wallace during practice and stayed after to help assistant coach Alain Nasreddine with some of the new guys: Andy Bathgate, Brian Gibbons and Ryan Schnell.

This isn't the first time Billy G. has come to Wilkes-Barre. He might be behind the bench for the playoffs.

Brian Gibbons looks small and at 5-8, well he is. But that doesn't mean the kid can't play. I watched him and Bathgate after the team left the ice, and here's what I gathered as a first impression.

Gibbons is a great skater and a good passer. He's small and quick, very comparable to a Chris Conner-type small forward with speed.  I think the real question is whether Gibbons' frame can handle the beating along the boards from 6-4, 220 pound defenseman night in and night out at the pro level. He definitely needs to bulk up that 165 pound frame in the off season.