CRANBERRY TWP, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Having not played since January 28 and with basically a game every other night until the end of the season, the Pens should get a pair of forwards back with a defenseman and goalie closing in on a return.
Pens went through over an hour long practice in Cranberry on Monday with a lot of scrimmage time. Throughout the entire practice forward Josh Archibald worked on a fourth line with Teddy Blueger and Ryan Poehling. Kasperi Kapanen on the right wing with Jeff Carter in the middle and Brock McGinn on the left side of the third line. Goalie Tristan Jarry and defenseman Jan Rutta skated before the team.
The 26-year-old Kapanen has bounced in-and-out of the lineup, recently on injured reserve with a lower body injury suffered on January 18.
He’s been a streaky player his whole career, starting off this season with five points in the first five games, followed by nine games with nothing and a pair of games with four goals and an assist, the hat trick against St. Louis. Before the injury he had one assist in his previous seven games, but Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan hopes he can be an offensive spark and bring speed to a struggling third line.
“We need him to play conscientious away from the puck,” Sullivan said. “When he does that he’s a real good player for us. When he’s shown a willingness to use his speed, take defensemen wide and then get inside the dots, drive to the net. Force defensemen to have to defend him. That’s when Kappy has been at his best and he really helps us in that regard.”
“He not only creates for himself, but he creates opportunities for his linemates. That’s the game he needs to bring consistently. When he does, he’s a real effective player for us.”
“It’s playing simple, not trying anything special and kind of getting some momentum,” Kapanen said. “When you are getting points and you are playing well you are getting confidence and you’ll do a lot more out there.”
He said the long practices Sunday and Monday have knocked the rust off for him. Now it’s about putting something together for a line that has been described recently as a ‘black hole’. Carter is pointless in his last 10 games, McGinn pointless in his last 16 games.
“We’ve had chances and haven’t put them in,” Kapanen said. “I think, first of all, we got to take care of our own net and be better in that department. From there, we just have to put more pucks on net and shoot. I think we all got good shots, just crash the net and put in a couple of rebounds.”
“When it’s going good, everything goes in and you are making plays. You get the bounces. When it rains it pours. I think we have to get out of that funk and just play better.”
Kapanen said he, Carter and McGinn hang out outside of the rink. They go to dinner together and they discuss their issues. He feels communication is key and now it’s about showing it in a game.
“We know we have not been playing our best,” Kapanen said. “We need to produce more. I think it’s something we will start on the right foot Tuesday.”