Penguins may stick with same lines for Game 5 against Capitals

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Mike Sullivan is trying to find what works for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Through four games of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins coach has yet to use the same lineup. Injuries have played a part, with forward Evgeni Malkin returning from a lower-body injury in Game 3 and forward Carl Hagelin back from an upper-body injury in Game 4, but a lack of production has mostly fueled the changes.

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But after winning Game 4 3-1 on Thursday to tie the best-of-7 series 2-2 entering Game 5 at Capital One Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVAS), the Penguins might finally have line combinations that click.
"A lot of it is just the gut instinct of the coaching staff on where we think our group is at," Sullivan said. "We've adjusted some line combinations. We've created some balance through our lineup. … We evaluate our lineup and our decisions after every game, and we try to put the best lineup on the ice that we think gives us the best chance to win."
Sidney Crosby centering the top line with Jake Guentzel at left wing has been the one constant for Pittsburgh this series. They've combined for 18 goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with everyone else combining for 20, or 12 without Patric Hornqvist's and Malkin's four goals each.
Crosby and Guentzel have controlled the puck for long stretches but have also generated off the rush. The rest of the lineup could ignite if it takes the same approach.
"I think it's just being able to execute in whatever situation that's there," Crosby said. "Whether you're creating chances or you're just creating zone time, I think that helps to get momentum."
In Game 1, Hornqvist played right wing alongside Crosby and Guentzel. In Game 4, Dominik Simon was elevated from second-line left wing to replace Hornqvist, who moved to second-line right wing.

Hornqvist played with Malkin, who was the second-line center with Hagelin to the left Thursday. Riley Sheahan centered the second line in Game 1 between Simon and right wing Phil Kessel, who was on the third line to the right of Sheahan and left wing Conor Sheary in Game 4.
Bryan Rust, the first-line right wing during the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers, began this series as third-line right wing and was elevated to the second line in Game 3 before sliding to the fourth line Thursday.
Twelve players participated in an optional practice Friday, so it's uncertain if any other changes will be made before Game 5.
Brassard and Kessel have played large roles in the frequent adjustments. With each scoring one goal through 10 playoff games, Sullivan has moved Brassard between third- and fourth-line center and Kessel between second- and third-line right wing.
Kessel had 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 49 games duing the previous two postseasons. He has seven points (one goal, six assists) in 10 games in these playoffs.
Some thought Kessel's struggles could stem from a lower-body injury that made him a game-time decision against the Capitals on April 1. Sullivan said that isn't the case.

"I don't think Phil is banged up any more than anybody else," Sullivan said. "It's a physical series. Everybody has bumps and bruises. I think that's just par for the course for this time of the year. I don't think there's a team left in the playoffs that doesn't have bumps and bruises."
Sheary, who has played first-line right wing with Crosby and Guentzel at times during the past two seasons, has also struggled. He has two assists in 10 playoff games but has remained at third-line left wing throughout the series against Washington. Sheary has noticed the changes around him, with Sheahan replacing Brassard at center and Kessel taking Rust's place at right wing.
But after winning Thursday, Sheary said the Penguins might be onto something.
"I think we have a lot of guys who are capable of moving up and down our lineup," Sheary said. "We have chemistry with a lot of our lines, and hopefully we can stick with those."