PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Hours before the trade deadline, the Pens have a rival to try to focus on while human emotions are also at play before hosting Washington Thursday night.
“A lot of guys in here have been through it,” said defenseman Marcus Pettersson, who at times has been mentioned in rumored trades. “For sure it’s a different situation for a lot of guys.”
“We got to focus on the task and what we can put on the ice. We can’t change what has happened or what will happen off the ice, but we can focus on the product we put on. It’s a big game. We got to show desperation (vs. Washington).”
The big name on the block is someone who won’t play against the Capitals. Jake Guentzel did skate in a regular jersey and is available to return to play on Sunday after suffering an upper-body injury. Reilly Smith’s name is out there, so are a few others including PO Joseph.
“It comes as part of the game,” Joseph said. “It definitely is difficult to see and hear things. We are a tight group in here and we want everyone to battle for the same goal to make the playoffs. I don’t think our goal changes.”
His defensive partner Kris Letang said similar things about no matter the bodies in the room of the goal remaining to find a way into the playoffs. Letang remembers in 2016 when the team traded David Perron and how tough it was to have him leave.
“You never know what to expect,” Letang said. “Sometimes you are getting players and sometimes you are sending players you played with. It’s always hard.”
“Seeing your friends and teammates and the relationships you create with them,” Joseph said. “That’s the most difficult part to think about, you don’t want to think about it when you are on the ice, battling with the people in the room. It definitely is part from a personal level.”
This will be the last game where they have to deal with it as the deadline hits on Friday at 3p.
“It will be good to get any uncertainty out of the way and knowing what we got,” said first-year Pens forward and former Capital Lars Eller. “We will get there when we get there, until then we will deal with the reality that we have. Big divisional game, a great opportunity to gain some ground and gain two points.”
“We love to compete out there,” Pettersson said. “Let’s hope we show that tonight. Show the fight we need. The desperation that we need and block the noise out of here.”
“When we play each other there is a heighted level of emotion in the game,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan of playing Washington Thursday. “They are very competitive. I’d like to believe that will capture the attention of both teams.”