Injuries, recent record lead to changes

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Penguins were without a couple of key players Thursday against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center, although none of them are terribly far from returning.

The only one who hasn’t missed the past handful of games (or more) was Matt Murray. In his absence, Casey DeSmith got the start in goal.

Speaking before the game, coach Mike Sullivan offered the following updates:

• Justin Schultz, out since Oct. 13 with a fractured left leg, is day-to-day.

• Murray has an upperbody injury and sat out his first game since returning Dec. 15. He’s also day-to-day.

• A cut below those two are Evgeni Malkin and Zach Aston-Reese. Malkin has an upper-body injury he suffered Jan. 30, while AstonReese hurt his left hand Jan. 8.

All four skated Thursday morning, and they’re all making progress, Sullivan said.

New-look lineup

Because of the injuries, and the fact that they had lost six of 10 games before Thursday, there were some drastic changes to the Penguins lineup.

Nick Bjugstad was on Sidney Crosby’s right wing. Matt Cullen was the secondline center. Tanner Pearson was dropped to the fourth line, with Teddy Blueger at center, and all three defense pairs were changed.

No more Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin; Marcus Pettersson was with Letang, and Dumoulin began the game with Jack Johnson. The third pair was Olli Maatta and Juuso Riikola.

Quite a switch

Less than seven days ago, Derick Brassard still was trying to find a fit on the Penguins’ third line, Riley Sheahan was bouncing around a bit, and Bjugstad and Jared McCann had helped Florida beat three of the NHL’s best teams — Toronto, Nashville and San Jose — entering the Panthers’ bye week.

A lot can change in a week.

In the blink of an eye, those four, uniforms switched, shared the same ice Thursday in an awkward encounter between the Penguins and Panthers, one littered with points to prove.

“When you play against [a former team], you just have to turn the switch and focus on what you have to do,” Brassard said. “At the end of the day, it’s just a hockey game. We have to try and compete hard for 60 minutes. After that, we can move on.”

Brassard would know. He has played against plenty of former teams — Columbus, Ottawa, the New York Rangers and the Penguins.

“It’s pretty weird,” McCann said. “Last week, I was playing for them. To walk in the other side, you’re kind of lost. But I had a good couple years here. I’m so thankful to the Panthers organization for giving me a good opportunity.”

Hearing sirens

The Penguins got a police escort to the game Thursday, and that marked the second in a seven-day stretch for Bjugstad and McCann. They received the same treatment in order to make puck drop last Friday, the day of the trade.

“I didn’t know they did that here on the way to the game,” Bjugstad said. “I looked at the bus times — we all kind of lived down by the ocean — I didn’t think we were going to make it. Then, I saw the police escort. I said, ‘Alright, we’re going to make it.’ “

Tough timing

Bjugstad’s wife, Jackie, is pregnant with the couple’s first child, due in April.

While that presents its own set of logistical challenges, Bjugstad said they’re not about to start stressing.

“It’s part of the job. Stuff like this happens,” Bjugstad said. “She’s been very positive. … She’ll find a good doctor up there, and everything will be good. It’s just an exciting time.”