PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Having not played since a win over the Devils on December 19 due to COVID-19, the Pens are scheduled to play Sunday at 1 against 35-point San Jose. They believe they will play that game.
"We are conducting ourselves like we will play on Sunday," said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan Friday. "I expect to have a game on Sunday against San Jose. We are preparing the team accordingly."
Even with the recent postponements, the Pens have only played two fewer games than Washington and New Jersey. They have even played three more games than the Islanders.
COVID shuffle
Forward Jeff Carter entered COVID-19 protocol for a second time in two months. Carter missed three games in October after testing positive and being asymptomatic. The 36-year-old is back on the list on Friday.
Pens currently have seven in COVID protocols-forwards-Carter, Kasperi Kapanen, Teddy Blueger, Dominik Simon, defensemen-John Marino and Mike Matheson and goalie Tristan Jarry.
While Carter goes on the list, 10-goal scorer Evan Rodrigues comes off. Rodrigues has 23 points in 30 games. He's set a new career-high in goals this year and is seven points from a career-high, previously set in 74 games with Buffalo in the 2018-19 season.
Rodrigues says he feels great, his time away coincided with the team not playing, so he has not missed a game.
"It's tough if you let it be," Rodrigues said of the changes COVID forces you to make. "I think it's all a mindset. You have to be ready no matter who you play with. It's difficult, but you have to embrace it and make the most of the challenge."
The forward line combinations on Friday (per Pens Inside Scoop)
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Evgeni Malkin-Evan Rodrigues
Zach Aston-Reese-Drew O'Connor-Brock McGinn
Kasper Bjorkqvist-Brian Boyle-Sam Lafferty
The defensive pairings rotated.
"The biggest challenge is trying to develop some chemistry when it comes to line combinations, defense pairs, power play groups, penalty-kill tandems," Sullivan said. "We go into the day with a specific game plan and lately it seems like we are thrown curveballs when we get in, in the morning and we have to make adjustments accordingly."
Recalls
A couple of large forwards moved from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the Pens Taxi Squad. 6'5" Anthony Angello and 6'6" Radim Zohorna called up after each had time with the Penguins last season. The 25-year-old Angello played 19 games in the NHL last season with four points and a plus-4. Zohorna, also 25, played in eight games with two goals and two assists last season. He has nine points in 21 games in the AHL this season.
"We know these guys can play," Sullivan said. "We know we can put them in the lineup and they can play minutes and make a positive impact on the game. Given the circumstances we've been in lately preparing the team in a practice environment-we are practicing with less guys than anticipated. Part of utilizing that practice squad is in anticipation of these unforeseen challenges that come our way."
