CRANBERRY TWP (93.7 The Fan) – He’s officially a game-time decision to return on the upcoming road trip, but Jason Zucker worked on Evgeni Malkin’s line and also with the second team power play Wednesday in Cranberry.
Zucker hasn’t played since January 17 after a core muscle injury and then surgery. The left-winger only returned to a full practice on Tuesday morning and went through everything in a 45-minute practice on Wednesday. The forward part of a couple of moves in the Pens lineup after losing two straight to the Rangers.
“We are just trying to explore the options that we have,” said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. “We are starting to get healthy. We are going to have some decisions to make on what our line combinations look like. We are always looking for the balance so we are harder to play against.”
On Wednesday in Cranberry, the lineup looked like this:
Jake Guentzel–Sidney Crosby–Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker–Evgeni Makin–Rickard Rakell
Evan Rodrigues – Jeff Carter– Kasperi Kapanen
Brian Boyle – Teddy Blueger – Danton Heinen
*Radim Zohorna, Anthony Angello extra forwards
Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang
Mike Matheson – John Marino
Mark Friedman – Chad Ruhwedel
*Marcus Pettersson working as extra
Zucker Game-time
We’ll start with the likely return of Zucker after a similar injury that Sidney Crosby had previously.
“He’s a north-south guy that plays really well in the battle areas and in traffic,” Sullivan said. “He’s great on the forecheck. He goes to the net and makes it hard on our opponents’ goaltender. I think that’s an important element to have on Geno’s line is someone that is willing to go to the net so that they are more encouraged to put pucks there. For me, I think that plays to Zucker’s strengths.”
The 5’11”, 192-pound forward has played only 31 games this season and none since January 17. He has six goals and seven assists total. When he was acquired from the Wild, it was hoped Zucker would give the team a boost. In 10 career playoff games with the Pens, Zucker has four goals and an assist.
Rakell switches sides
In a way, Rickard Rakell is this year’s version of Zucker from the standpoint he is a late addition with the hopes of fortifying the lines. He’s played two games on Evgeni Malkin’s line and says they’ve had some really good looks.
“I’m starting to learn where he is on the ice and where we can combine our strength,” Rakell said. “I’m excited, I think it’s been a lot of fun and only going to get better.”
For Zucker to play the left side, Rakell will have to switch back to the right. He’s a right-handed shot, so it shouldn’t be that different even though he prefers the left.
“I don’t think it matters which side,” Rakell said. “While you line up on one side on the faceoffs, then you are really reading off each other and just playing the game. I don’t think it’s going to matter that much.”
“He’s comfortable on both sides,” Sullivan said. “He’s had a significant body of work on both sides. He’s comfortable on both sides. I don’t think it’s a big adjustment for him for how we are trying to play.”
“We are looking for complimentary skill sets, but I think Rakell’s versatility helps us with his ability to play both sides.”
Rakell said it’s an entirely different style of hockey in Pittsburgh than he played for about a decade with the Ducks. The 28-year-old believes the Pens style actually fits his game better.
“I’m just trying to learn it more and more every day,” Rakell said. “My game is growing as well for every game I play. There are so many good players on this team. I’m trying to learn their patterns, work on some chemistry and fit in.”
“I think he’s done a great job,” said Pens forward Evan Rodrigues. “He came into a tough situation playing three in four (nights) right off the bat. You can see his skill and his poise on the puck when he gets in the offensive zone and I think he will get more and more comfortable and continue to make plays.”
Trickle down
Zucker getting healthy and Rakell with Malkin moves Bryan Rust back up to the top line where he scored most of his 22 goals this season. It also means Rodrigues’ nomad line existence continues, now paired with Kasperi Kapanen and Jeff Carter.
“Over the last year and a half, two years I’ve played with Teddy, Carts (Carter), Sid and G (Malkin) enough that I kind of know them all,” Rodrigues said. “You kind of just play your own game no matter who you are playing with. Playing alongside Carter, he’s fast and likes to play north-south.”
“It’s being an outlet for him to kick the puck out wide. He’s such a big body going to the net, just putting it there and letting him go to work. Me and Kapanen have had chemistry in the past, hopefully we can have a good game.”
It also shows the value of Carter. Signed to a two-year contract extension, the 36-year-old is ‘invaluable’ according to Sullivan. He’s played wing and seemingly played with every winger but Jake Guentzel.
“Regardless of where we put him, he adjusts,” Sullivan said. “He’s willing to embrace whatever role we try to cast him in on a given night and sometimes it changes and he just roles with it. That’s the type of player that he is. That’s the type of person that he is.”
“When I have discussions with him and ask him about some of our thoughts and where we are going to try to utilize him and how he can help us win. He’s always been so accepting and embraces the challenge. He’s a good leader. He’s a positive guy, has a positive impact with the players he plays with. He’s helped Kapanen a fair amount since they’ve been together.”
“He’s a calming influence. He has a professional demeanor about him that I think is really beneficial for our group.”
A former winger of Malkin’s Danton Heinen joins the fourth line with Brian Boyle and Teddy Blueger knocking out Radim Zohorna.
Defensive switch
Mark Friedman brings something no one else on the team has. It’s an edge to his game that might cross the line at times. He’s what my old gym coach used to call a ‘Maytag’ because he’s an agitator. Wednesday, he replaced Marcus Pettersson, who has played in 62 games, in the defensive pairings.
“He’s in the conversation every day,” Sullivan said of Friedman. “He’s played well when we put him in the lineup. He has the ability to be a difference-maker. He’s a real mobile guy, a competitive guy.”
“I think he defends well, he’s willing to block shots. He can help us on the penalty kill. There are a number of areas where Friedman can help us when he goes in the lineup.”
As Sullivan will say, all lineup decisions are ‘game-time’. However as players get healthy, competition grows to maintain your role or stay in the lineup with only 14 games left.