Thursday Practice UPDATE

A quick, but up-tempo practice from the Penguins at Coal Street today. The Penguins get ready for another three game weekend, starting Friday night in Philadelphia and ending Sunday afternoon in Bridgeport. The Penguins return home in between those two for a Saturday night home affair with the Connecticut Whale.

Alex Grant did not practice today and is "more than likely out this weekend" per head coach John Hynes. With Mark Eaton released, the defense is set for the weekend with Dylan Reese, Joey Mormina, Philip Samuelsson, Cody Wild, Joe Morrow and Brian Dumoulin. Recent ECHL call up Reid McNeill will serve as the team's 7th defenseman and could make his WBS debut sometime this weekend.

Chris Collins was missing from practice today with what Hynes termed as a maintenance day. With Collins' absence, the Penguins had just 11 forwards on the ice today. It isn't out of the question for the Penguins to call up someone from Wheeling to carry 13 healthy forwards into the weekend, and I expect that guy would be Chris Barton if that is indeed the case.

I spoke with Trevor Smith about the importance of this weekend's games and how the guys prepare for a busy weekend like the one they are about to begin starting tomorrow against the Phantoms.

"We just came off one of those three-in-threes so we got a few days rest here during the week. We got to start with the Friday game and come out guns blazing because we need to get at least two out of three this week."

I'll be live from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tomorrow night when the Penguins take on the Adirondack Phantoms on a big stage at the home venue of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. I'll preview the game tomorrow morning and have all the latest on Twitter (@H_P_Hockey).