We should be in for a treat tonight. Pittsburgh and Toronto will play for what could be the last time before a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup. Both teams will need a lot of good fortune to make it there, but that would be a great and entertaining playoff battle.

Tonight's game is in Toronto and the Penguins are still going to be without wingers Bryan Rust and Dominik Simon. Bryan Rust has a concussion from what can only be described as a needless hit. The game of hockey isn't better because of the hit on Rust. As a result the team called up Josh Jooris from the Baby Penguins. Jooris was the last player transaction in the Ron Francis run Hurricanes. He was "promoted" to not having any say in personnel choices in the future.

Josh Jooris will slide onto the fourth line as a depth player with Tom Kuhnhackl in all likelihood. There were no line rushes, but here is my guess at the lineup tonight

Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary
Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist
Sheahan-Brassard-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Rowney-Jooris

The Maple Leafs aren't without injury issues of their own. Auston Matthews hasn't played since February 22nd with a shoulder injury. There is no minimizing the impact he has on the Maple Leafs. He's their best player and one of the best in the league. If this were the playoffs I bet he would find his way into the lineup, but it's not and the Leafs aren't in any kind of danger of messing with their playoff status so he will continue to be on the mend.

With Bryan Rust, Dominik Simon, and Zach Aston-Reese all out with injuries right now I thought just maybe the Penguins would give Daniel Sprong a look. Not the case as noted above with Josh Jooris' promotion. Sprong will continue to work on being a complete player in the AHL. What does a complete player look like at the NHL level? Apparently this



And not this



I don't know. It's almost like those other guys aren't nearly good enough defensively to make up for their horrendous offensive ability, but Daniel Sprong's offense isn't good enough to make up for his terri.... wait a minute. Sprong has been fine defensively in his 2017-18 NHL sample. He is one of the leaders in possession on the team and he has a skill set that can compliment the other players in the lineup. Oh well. Keep learning, kid.

NEW PODCAST: No Goalie No Job - @NHLCanes @NHL @penguins @EdmontonOilers @NJDevils We also discuss the MVP discussion - https://t.co/hMYvkxEmm5

— Hockey Hurts (@Hockey_Hurts) March 10, 2018

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