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Could Smith have been recalled on road trip? It's complicated

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins were in a bit of a tough spot when it came to the salary cap on this last road trip.

They had seven healthy defensemen at the start, until both P.O Joseph and Jan Rutta were injured in the opening game of the road trip in Washington.

Rutta ended up being good to go for the last two games of the trip in Toronto and Montreal, but Joseph remained sidelined with a nagging lower-body injury. Joseph's absence allowed Chad Ruhwedel to get back into the lineup on his off side, while Mark Friedman was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scrantonas insurance to dress as the seventh defenseman.