PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Coming into the season the Pens figured they would have a solid, not just top two lines, but at least three, with the potential for four solid forward lines.
Through 33 games, they have not met Head Coach Mike Sullivan's wishes.
"There have been some nights where they have been pretty good," Sullivan said of the third line. "There are other nights, we have higher expectations."
Undoubtably the best of the three in terms of production and all-around game is Brock McGinn. The second-year Penguin has 10 goals, which is fourth on the team. He's the only one from that line in the plus part of plus/minus. Center Jeff Carter has only four goals and 10 assists. He's soon to be 38-years-old and after nine goals in his first 14 games as a Penguin following the trade in 2021. Carter has 23 goals in last 106 games and is a minus 10.
Kasperi Kapanen was benched for a while. Signing a two-year, $6.4 million dollar contract this offseason the 26-year-old has scored goals in only three games this year, one being a hat trick. Five goals in 24 games after going goalless the last 21 games last season.
"We're trying to figure out our bottom six right now based on the health of our group," Sullivan said. "I would anticipate us probably tinkering with those lines a little bit trying to come up with a little more balance."
The first move they could make is moving Teddy Blueger up to the third line and pushing Carter to the fourth.
Blueger has six points in 18 games after starting the season injured. The Pens are currently without Ryan Poehling and Josh Archibald due to injury.
Danton Heinen hasn't yet found his game, Drew O'Connor is up, the 6'3", 200-pounder has three goals and three assists in 36 career NHL games. O'Connor led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 22 points in 20 games. They also have wingers Alexander Nylander (20 points in 25 games), Valtteri Puustinen (20 points in 26 games) and Filip Hallander (20 points in 21 games) in the AHL. Former first-round pick Sam Poulin is unavailable, he's taken a mental health break from hockey.
Four of the next five games are against teams with winning records, whatever the combination is, the Pens need more.
