Pens’ Hagelin skates, unlikely to play

Penguins forward CarlHagelin practicedWednesday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injuryMarch 10.

Hagelin joined his teammates wearing a yellow nocontact jersey at practice in Cranberry Township, Pa. The Penguins had a day off Tuesday.

Hagelin is unlikely to play Thursday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round against the Capitals at theVerizon Center inWashington. Hagelin skated alone Sunday andMonday. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan did not have a time frame forHagelin’s return.

“(Hagelin) is) getting eager,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “It’s a big step that he’s joined the team in practice today. We’ll take it day to day as we go, but certainly the fact that he’s joined the team in practice, he’s a whole lot closer.”

Hagelin has missed 21 games since a 3-2 shootout win against the Oilers.

After practice, Hagelin said he hoped his return was close, but “you never know.”

The Capitals and Penguins arrive at their latest showdown looking very much like they did a year ago.

The Capitals added center Lars Eller and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk as a direct response to losing their second-round series last season, hoping the depth will help against the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Penguins have a different goaltender with Marc-Andre Fleury replacing injured Matt Murray and are without injured defenseman Kris Letang.

Aside from those changes and a few other tweaks, the teams that take the ice Thursday night are strikingly similar to those who played for six games last spring.

“This is a unique situation— both teamshave a lot of guys back,” Pens centerMatt Cullen said. “It’s not often with the salary cap and everything that you bring a similar team back. It makes for an interesting matchup.”

Sens’ Brassard ready to face ex-teammates: After being acquired in July, Derick Brassard returned to his hometown of Ottawa with the reputation as a big game player in the postseason and as someone who could help the Senators “take the next step.”

So far so good. Brassard led the Sens in scoring during their first-round series win over the Bruins but now he looks to duplicate that success in Round 2 against his former club.

The Sens and Rangers kick off their second-round series Thursday in Ottawa.

“Like any team, we’re in the second round andwe have a goal as a team,” Brassardsaid. “Rightnow, they’re intheway and it doesn’t matter if it’s the Rangers or any other team. We’re going to try our best to advance.” News services