Monday Practice update: Neal, Sullivan return

Two days before Game 1, the best we can do is look to practice as both the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins are back at practice as they prepare for each other in game one of the playoffs.

For the Penguins, James Neal and Steve Sullivan returned to practice. Both last were seen against the Flyers last Sunday and missed the final two regular season game with the dreaded undisclosed lower body injury. Last week Bylsma said both were day-to-day and said he expected both to be back for the start of the playoffs, so this is a good sign that not much has changed there.

A pair of Matt's - Matt Niskanen and Matt Cooke - did not take to the ice. Niskanen missed the final few games with injury, no word on Cooke's status.

Across the state, Daniel Briere and Nicklas Grossman, aka the poor players taken out by that old meanie Joe Vitale were both able to practice. But no real word has crept up on twitter about James van Riemsdyk (broken foot) so who knows his status.

Aaaand that's about it for real news, now we continue to wait for the