Inside Scoop: Pens-Bruins
By
Sasha Kandrach
BOUNCING BACK
The Penguins begin a stretch of six games in nine nights with back-to-back contests tonight against Boston and tomorrow against Los Angeles. The Pens are coming off of a three-game road trip where they finished 1-1-1.
Still, the Pens are tied with the New York Islanders for third place in the Metro Division, so every point in precious for the rest of the season.
"It's big points for us," captain Sidney Crosby said. "Obviously, we're in a big race to get in the playoffs. We need the points and we've got a lot of games coming up. Tonight, will be a good test."
"We're right there. We're two points from a playoff spot. I don't think it's time to hit the panic button. We've got some important games here and we've got to do something with them."
Forward Bryan Rust snapped a 21-game goal-drought against Chicago on Wednesday with his second career hat trick. Despite the individual effort, the Pens lost the game 6-3 against a Blackhawks team that had lost eight straight.
"It doesn't matter who we're playing, where we're playing or when we're playing," Rust said. "Every team in this league is good. It doesn't matter where they are in the standings. Whoever it is we've got to bring it every night. We can't take nights off, periods off or shifts off. We've got to try and keep it consistent."
SHUFFLE
At the Pens' morning skate the top-two line pairings saw some changes. Tanner Pearson was shifted to the left wing alongside Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Zach Aston-Reese was promoted to the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.
"I think when things aren't going right that's what happens," Pearson said. "The lineup gets juggled around. Hopefully, it works out for the best."
For Pearson, this is his first time playing on the top line and with Crosby since he was traded to the Pens from Los Angeles in exchange for Carl Hagelin on Nov. 14. Since joining the Pens, the 26-year-old winger has produced three goals and two assists and has consistently been playing on the left wing of Malkin.
"Playing with Geno is obviously really nice, too," Pearson said. "They're two really, really high-end skilled centermen. Playing with guys like that you just get open and they'll find your stick some way or another. Just got to be ready when it comes to you."
It's a big boost for 24-year-old Aston-Reese to get shifts alongside Malkin and Kessel, a spot he worked during training camp, and more minutes in a game as a whole. But the forward isn't planning on dramatically changing his game to compliment the dynamic duo.
"When you're playing more minutes it's kind of easy to get into a flow," Aston-Reese said. "I think the important thing playing with those guys is just keeping my game the same. Not trying to be a skilled guy or play out of my limits. Just play a hard, strong game. Just try and get those guys the puck and create some traffic in front. I'm there for a reason and that's what I've been doing in the bottom-six."
DESMITH STARTS
Head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that Casey DeSmith will get the start in net tonight despite reactivating Matt Murray from injured reserve on Dec. 12.
"We're trying to put Matt in the best possible position to be successful," Sullivan said. "As I said in Chicago at the time, he had only had one team practice. So (as of today), he's had one team practice and a morning skate. The reality is we're playing back-to-back. They're both going to get games. When we looked at it as a coaching staff, it was more how do we get the best of out of both of them so we give those guys the best opportunity to be successful, and we also give our team the best chance to win."
WORKFLOW
Pearson-Crosby-Guentzel
AstonReese-Malkin-Kessel
Sheahan-Brassard-Rust
Grant-Cullen-Dea/Wilson
Dumoulin-Letang
Mattaa-Oleksiak
Pettersson-Johnson
Riikola-Ruhwedel
