Carter Rowney knows his former linemate Jake Guentzel set a pretty high bar for Penguins making their NHL debuts this season.
Rowney — poised to see his first big-league action tonight as the Penguins take on the Predators — may not match Guentzel’s first game, in which he scored a goal on his first shift and two in his first period, but he’s excited all the same.
“Obviously that’s a high bar,” Rowney said Tuesday morning. “I’m just going to come in, take it all in, soak it up and take shift by shift.”
This is technically Rowney’s second NHL call-up this season, as he joined the Penguins in Boston for their final game before the All-Star break but did not play. On Monday, though, he practiced on a line with Patric Hornqvist and Carl Hagelin, and all indications are he will be in the lineup tonight.
“Being so close right now, there’s a lot of excitement,” Rowney said. “A lot of excitement with my family coming into town and everything. Right now I just want to take it slowly, soak it all in and enjoy the night.”
Rowney, who signed a two-year contract last season, has shown a scoring ability in the AHL this season with 10 goals and 21 points through 26 games. He also scored two goals in five preseason games for the Penguins this year.
Still, Rowney admitted he was “pretty shocked” Monday when he saw his name in between Hornqvist’s and Hagelin’s on the Penguins’ lineup board, but he’s looking forward to the opportunity to play in between two of the Penguins’ regular top wingers.
“They’re both skilled players,” he said. “To be able to go out there and practice, I had a few jitters early in that practice, for sure. You just calm down and play your game, trust your game and go out there and play hockey.”
Letang a game-time decision
Defenseman Kris Letang seems likely to return to the lineup tonight, though coach Mike Sullivan said he is a game-time decision.
Letang, who has been out since Dec. 14 with a lower-body injury, skated with the team today and Monday.
If Letang does return to the lineup tonight, he sees no reason why he wouldn’t assume his normal role of playing 20-plus minutes and taking the lead on the Penguins’ top power-play unit.
“Why would I pace myself?” he said. “You don’t want to pace yourself. You want to go as hard as you can. You want to build your conditioning, get prepared in practice.”
Sullivan agreed. If Letting is in the lineup, there’s really only one way he knows how to play.
“When he does go in our lineup, he’s ready to play the minutes that we give him,” Sullivan said. “He’s a tough guy to ease in because he’s such an impact player, it’s hard not to put him on the ice when he’s on your bench.”
Cullen, Malkin skate
Injured centers Matt Cullen and Evgeni Malkin skated by themselves before the rest of the Penguins practiced this morning.
Cullen was ruled out for 3-4 weeks with a foot injury Jan. 17, while Malkin missed Thursday’s game against Boston — as well as the All-Star Game — with a lower-body injury he sustained Jan. 24 against St. Louis.
Sullivan said Malkin has been re-evaluated and has made “significant progress.”
“We’re encouraged with where he’s at,” Sullivan said. “We’re hopeful that he’ll get on the ice here soon, and that’s the next step, obviously. Then we’ll go from there. We’re certainly encouraged with the progress that he’s made.”
More Murray?
Matt Murray was the first goalie off the ice after the Penguins’ morning skate and will likely make his seventh consecutive start tonight. Marc-Andre Fleury has not played since giving up six goals in the Penguins’ 6-3 loss to Detroit Jan. 14.
Sam Werner: swerner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @SWernerPG
First Published: January 31, 2017, 5:35 p.m.