Defenseman Erik Karlsson rejoined the Pittsburgh Penguins’ morning skate on Saturday, recovering from a day of illness that had forced him to miss practice. Reilly Smith, presently on injured reserve, participated in his second consecutive day of skating. However, these updates take a back seat to the Penguins’ primary challenge as they prepare to face the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena: avoiding the so-called Vegas flu.
It has become a common trend for teams to arrive a couple of days early when facing the Golden Knights, but this practice often results in teams being physically drained after indulging in the temptations of the vibrant city.
The Penguins face a unique challenge on Saturday, as they have not played since Monday. This week, owing to a quirk in the NHL schedule, served as a brief respite before their upcoming bye week in eight days. Even if the game were in Fargo, ND, the Penguins might find themselves fatigued in the first period due to the extended break.
Coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged the difficulty and stressed the importance of maintaining the right mindset and focus throughout the game. Despite their recent 8-2-3 record in the last 13 games, the Penguins have slipped to the bottom of the wild-card pack. However, their winning percentage remains among the top 10 teams, and they have multiple games in hand on most teams vying for playoff spots.
The Vegas flu has impacted several teams this season, but the Golden Knights, despite missing key forwards, including the recently injured Jack Eichel, secured a convincing 5-1 victory against the New York Rangers on Thursday. The Penguins cannot afford a similar setback in a tight playoff race where every point holds significant importance.
