Tuesday's Practice Report: Zlobin Skating, Ebbett Missing & Samuelsson Still Out

Anton Zlobin is eying a Game One return. Photo credit: @ItsJacki.

The big news coming out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins practice this morning at the Toyota SportsPlex is that forward Anton Zlobin (upper body) joined the team towards the end of practice in a red, no-contact jersey. He didn't participate in any drills, but the fact that he has resumed skating is a good sign.

Coach Hynes said after the Binghamton series that, depending on when the next round started, that Zlobin might be ready for Game One. I think it's safe to assume that after a week of practice with no setbacks that Zlobin should be ready for Friday's Game One in Wilkes-Barre.



Andrew Ebbett was missing from practice today, for what I'm sure was likely a maintenance day for him. I wouldn't hit the panic button unless he misses practice on Thursday morning before the team heads up to Providence.

Jonathan Bombulie reported yesterday that Philip Samuelsson (lower body) is off crutches and walking around, but he didn't skate today. I wouldn't expect Samuelsson to be ready for the start of the series, but you never know at this time of the year.

Conor Sheary, Mike Carman and Spencer Machacek all skated with the main group but appear to be on the outside looking in if Zlobin can return for Game One Friday night. They skated together on a make-shift 5th line today.

All three goaltenders skated today at practice - those being Peter Mannino, Matt Murray and Eric Hartzell. Jeff Deslauriers (lower body) has already been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason.

With Ebbett missing and Zlobin not participating in drills, the lines were a little different. If both are ready for Game One then the lines will likely look something like this:

Zlobin - Ebbett - Kobasew
Zolnierczyk - Drazenovic - Kostopoulos
Uher - Rowney - Payerl
Farnham - Sill - Leblond
Sheary - Carman - Machacek

Despres - McNeill
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - Goers
D'Agostino - Ruopp

Mannino - Murray - Hartzell