Penguins' projected lineup vs. Blue Jackets revealed following Rutger McGroarty's concussion

The big news at morning skate was McGroarty wearing a regular black jersey, a notable step after the concussion that put him on injured reserve earlier this month.

But the more telling detail was what did not change.

Pens Inside Scoop reported the Penguins kept the same workflow in their forward trios, even with McGroarty on the ice.

That matters because this game has weight in the Metro picture.

Pittsburgh enters at 22-14-10 with 54 points, while Columbus sits at 49 points, and the season series has been pure chaos with every prior meeting going past regulation.

The top line remains Rickard Rakell with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, and it's hard to argue with it when Crosby still drives everything.

ESPN has him at 24 goals and 49 points through 46 games, and that's still the heartbeat of this roster.

As a fan, the black jersey is encouraging, but it also feels like Dan Muse is refusing to rush anything.

The middle six is where things get interesting against Columbus' speed.

Pens Inside Scoop had Yegor Chinakhov with Tommy Novak and Evgeni Malkin, while Anthony Mantha skated with Ben Kindel and Justin Brazeau.

Down low, Connor Dewar stays with Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari, and that line has been a steady «start-on-time» group lately.

Lizotte's new three-year extension is a nice nod to how much trust he's earned in that role.

On defense, the pairs were Brett Kulak with Kris Letang, Parker Wotherspoon with Jack St. Ivany, and Ryan Shea with Connor Clifton, which keeps the look consistent while Erik Karlsson remains out.

If McGroarty isn't in the trios yet, the Penguins can still take something from his presence.

The next milestone is simple, keep the structure tight early, because every single Jackets game this year has turned into a one-bounce track meet late.

Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Egor Chinakhov is forcing Dan Muse to rethink his strategy