PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s a team that was counted out a couple of weeks ago and the Pens talk about their mindset before hosting Nashville in game 81 Monday night following the loss to Boston. A look at the last Predators matchup, how they are playing and a forward who might return to the lineup.
Mindset
Could you lose this game and still make the playoffs, yes, but the scenario doesn’t seem believable. What the Pens players said about needing a win Monday and Wednesday at the Islanders.
“The situation we’ve been in for awhile has probably brought out the best in us,” said Pens captain Sidney Crosby. “I think that will help us.”
“We’ve been in this mindset for a while now that we have to win every game in front of us,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson told 93.7 The Fan. “We are right there, obviously we need some help, but all we can do is focus on ourselves and trying to win the game in front of us.”
“I think we can do a better job (than we did in) the last couple of games of keeping our heads a little cooler, making the right decisions. We want to be aggressive and lean forward and be on our toes, maybe we can keep our heads a little bit cooler.”
“There's always that other gear,” said forward Bryan Rust. “Obviously, we've been trying to play with that gear now for a few weeks, trying to get as many points as we can. But right now, we got to win games, and we got to win these last two.”
Harkins return?
He is available for Monday’s game after going through a full morning skate. Forward Jansen Harkins has spent a little time in the minors as he recovers from an injury that happened in a fight against the Caps on March 7.
“I spent a lot of time watching, and everybody on our team battling down the stretch here,” Harkins said. “It's tough to be watching when everyone's out there working hard and making huge plays, bringing it every night. I mean, you're just kind of hurrying to get back in the lineup and help the team in some way. So for me, it's doing what I do, use my feet and bring in some energy."
Harkins played in 43 games this season and doesn’t have a goal. He averages just over eight minutes a game with four assists.
“Harks does a good job with straight-line speed,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “He’s conscientious defensively. He’s a real good puck pursuit guy. He defends well. He’s pretty good on the wall. He’s helped that line (4th line) all year long with momentum by being on the puck. A lot of times he’s the first guy on the forecheck, he gives that line an opportunity to generate moment for our group.”
Nashville matchup
It’s been since November that the teams met, it was one of those 12 overtime losses in Nashville. Filip Forsberg scored 14 seconds into overtime as Crosby collided with Ryan O’Reilly at the blue line right before the wrister from Forsberg won it 3-2. Evgeni Malkin and Rust each scored. Pens came back from a 2-0 deficit. Nashville played with seven defensemen in that game.
The Preds are three points clear of Las Vegas for the top Wild Card spot in the West. It’s Nashville’s final game and the second-place Golden Knights have two games to play. So, there is something to motivate for Monday.
Nashville has a 4-3 record this month, all of the victories against non-playoff teams. Forsberg has 93 points (47 goals), followed by Roman Josi with 85 points (23 goals) and they have the trade addition of former Pens forward Jason Zucker-in 17 games with Nashville, five goals and two assists.